Travel Archives - Kate Horodyski

Oct 11

montreal

Oct 11

Bar Darling

I’m in the middle of a six week trip right now, and I thought I’d share some of my favourite spots that I visit along the way. I was originally going away for 2 weeks (a week in NYC with friends for my birthday and then visiting a friend in Toronto), but I’m in the middle of apartment hunting and couldn’t find a place for October, so I decided to extend my trip and get a place for November instead.

Right now I’m back in Toronto, which I am loving so much!! I’m staying at my friend’s place while he’s away travelling, and yeah it’s just the best. I’ve got a really long list of places to check out while I’m here, so I’ll probably do a Toronto post later on.

Last week I was in Montreal staying with my aunt. We kind of just hung out and this is by no means the ultimate list of things to do in Montreal, just some cool places I checked out while I was there.

Just on a side note, my friend messaged me last week after I posted a photo asking how I find so many cool places, and my answer is Instagram! I used to use Pinterest to plan all of my trips, and I still use it, but Instagram is my go-to. I just search hashtags for whatever it is I’m interested in seeing in that city and see where people are going. For example, #torontocoffee, #torontofoodie, #torontoparks, etc. It’s the best! I’ve found so many amazing places this way.

Here are some places I recommend in Montreal.

Plateau

My aunt lives in a neighbourhood called the Plateau, and it’s a really great part of the city filled with restaurants, boutiques, and cafes and has kind of an artsy vibe.

La Fontaine Park

This park is right by my Aunt’s apartment, and it’s soo pretty and always filled with locals (but in a cozy, neighbourhood feel way, not a crowded way). In the winter, they turn the pond into a skating rink and put up lights and Christmas trees.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal is beautiful, and in my opinion, it’s one of the things that really sets Montreal apart from other big cities. Just walking through here is so gorgeous, and you feel like you’re in Europe- cobblestone streets, old buildings, amazing restaurants, high-end boutiques. Some parts are overrun by tacky tourist souvenir stores, but for the most part, it’s just beautiful

Stash Cafe

A Polish restaurant in Old Montreal that is seriously amazing. I had the krokiety, which is a breaded crepe stuffed with mushrooms or meat, and it was so good. I’d also recommend the borscht and perogies, not because I tried them there, but because you really can’t go wrong with either one in my opinion.

La Finca

Okay I didn’t actually get the chance to hang out here, but it was this amazing cafe near old Montreal (have you noticed I have an obsession with coffee shops? When I travel I spend so much time at them because a) they’re great places to get work done, b) it’s a cool way to see the city without doing boring touristy things, and c) coffee is amazing). Anyways I just stopped in to look and meant to go back, but I ran out of time. It is bright and open, with a super cute back patio, and the food looked amazing.

Cafe Tommy

Super cute spot in Old Montreal! High cielings, white walls, lots of plants- you know, the classic Instagram-worthy cafe. It wasn’t that big, but it managed to fit in tons of seating without being overcrowded, which is a weird observation, but I liked it.

Bar Darling

Probably my favourite coffee shop I’ve been to in Montreal. Omg this place was soo pretty!! It was kind of an industrial meets Americana vibe, filled with plants, leather couches, and metal accents. Almost everyone there was working on their computers, which I loved because some places make you feel awkward for being on your computer, but here it was the go to. Oh and the music was instrumental versions of pop songs, which I have a serious thing for, and it was just so cozy- I felt like I was hanging out in a big, very stylish living room. I wish I could go here every day!!

Cafe OSMO

I loved this coffee shop! It had good coffee, the interior is kind of industrial chic, but still warm and welcoming, there are lots of tables, comfy couches, and an outdoor area. Oh and good croissants. So really, what more do you need in life?

Mount Royal

On my first day there, we walked up the mountain, which is located right in the city. The park is gorgeous, and when you’re in it it’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of a city. It’s a beautiful walk up the mountain, and once you get near the top, there is a lookout area where you have great views of the city.

Mass at Notre Dame

I’m not Catholic, but my Aunt is and we decided to go to mass at Notre Dame. The cathedral is stunning and mass (which is in French) was beautiful. If you want to see the cathedral, this is how I’d recommend seeing it because you just walk right in and it’s free (aside from collection, if you choose to pay that), and you get the full experience. If you don’t do mass, you have to wait in a massive line to get in and pay an entrance fee. Either way, I think it’s worth it.

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz-Carleton

I’d always wanted to do afternoon tea, so my aunt and I went to the tea at the Ritz. It was so nice- you have tea, champagne, and a seriously delicious assortment of sandwiches and pastries. They have seatings every day (I think on weekends too, but I’m not positive) at 12:30 and 3:30.

Atwater Market

This market is really cute, and it has produce stands outside and butchers/gourmet food stores/chocolate shops/etc. inside. My favourite part is out back where they have a bunch of delicious food stalls with international cuisine and picnic tables. My aunt got paella, and I got amazing steam buns.

Canal Lounge

This was another spot I didn’t actually go to, but I was right outside it, and it looked so cool! It’s a small boat that’s been turned into a bar, docked right near Atwater Market. There is seating inside as well as Adirondack chairs at the front (on the bow? I don’t know boat terms at all haha), and then a little outdoor lounge spot at the back. So cute.

Now I’m in Toronto for the next two weeks and then Ottawa for a week. If you have any recommendations in either place I’d love to hear them!!

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Jul 04

A Guide to Tulum

Jul 04

I’ve been getting lots of messages from people asking me for advice on what to do in Tulum, so I figured I’d combine it all into a post!

I absolutely loved Tulum. Yes it’s full of tourists, yes it’s by no means off the beaten path, and yes it’s pricey, but do you know why it’s all of these things? Because it’s awesome and gorgeous, and an all around amazing place to visit. Also, it’s full of tourists but not at all in the way that Cancun or Puerto Vallarta are. It just has a chill, low-key vibe, and while it’s not exactly an authentic Mexican experience it is, in my opinion, a must visit.

THE TOWN

Tulum is basically two strips, with a road connecting the two. You have one long road that makes up the town of Tulum and one long road along the beach where you’ll find the best hotels and restaurants. They run parallel, and connecting them is another road that has a few restaurants and accommodations along it. Obviously the dream is to stay at one of the $700/night beach bungalows along the beach road, but if you’re on more of a backpacker budget, you’ll likely be staying in town (note: you can find accommodations for less than $700 along the beach road as well- my point is just that it’s much pricier down there).

The beach road, like I said, is lined with nice hotels (but not the tacky resort kind like you’ll find in Cancun. I’m talking really gorgeous, eco-conscious spots of heaven), healthy and delicious restaurants, and high-ish end boutiques).

The town road is a mix of restaurants, tourist stalls, accommodations, and then services like banks, pharmacies, a massive grocery store, etc. It’s often described as just a dusty strip, but I really liked it! Obviously, the beach road is more the Tulum vibe you see all over Instagram, but the town is cool too, and there are lots of great spots.

ACCOMMODATIONS

I stayed in a total of four different accommodations in Tulum because I kept extending my trip (5 days turned into 2 weeks, and I could have stayed longer!). When I first got there, my friend and I did an AirBnB (reasonably priced and some great options), and then I stayed in a few different hostels. The best by far was Mama’s Home. It fills up fast though, so book in advance if you’re going the hostel route.

Tulum is cool because it suits both a backpacker budget and a high-end luxury travel budget, so regardless of the kind of trip you want, you’ll find a great place to stay.

CENOTES

I absolutely LOVED the cenotes- they were totally one of the trip highlights for me! I’ve never seen such crystal clear water, and I just found them fascinating. There are tons of cenotes around Tulum and the whole Mayan Riviera, but the ones we went to were Gran Cenote and Cenote Tankach-Ha. I recommend doing both because they’re very different. Gran Cenote is an easy cab ride from Tulum and is all above ground (though there is an above ground cave you can swim under), while Cenote Tankach-Ha is a bit further outside of the town, and it’s underground and just soo cool!! We rented a car (more on that below) to get to this one, but I think you can also go with a tour.

Namaste Casa de Te

Hoja Verde

RESTAURANTS + CAFES

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff: Food. There are so many amazing places to eat in Tulum, and you’ll find everything from $1 street tacos to fab seafood restaurants. As with the accommodations, you’ll generally find cheaper, more casual places in town and higher end places along the beach road.

In town, I loved..

Hoja Verde: A vegetarian restaurant where I went almost every day to drink smoothies and get work done (their internet is great). The Tio Bob chocolatey smoothie changed me as a person.

Namaste Casa de Te: One of the most beautiful cafes ever. Beautiful setting, amazing teas, and such a peaceful atmosphere. They are really passionate about tea and will explain their menu and share lots of cool tea info. I had an iced chamomile and lavender tea with coconut milk, and it was amazing!

Del Cielo: Popular breakfast spot on the town road. It serves delicious healthy meals and sells natural beauty and body products.

Ki’bok Coffee: I can’t remember the name of the street this place is on, but there are a bunch of cool restaurants on the same street. The coffee here is SO GOOD! It’s full of tourists on their laptops living the digital nomad dream.

All of the places above are not really budget spots- you’re going to be paying US/Canadian prices for the majority of spots in the town/beach road because it is such a touristy destination. However, you can still get some really awesome budget-friendly street food. As with everywhere, I went in Mexico, I was obsessed with the street tacos and coco paletas.

Along the beach road, I loved…

Raw Love: Pretty sure going here was my main motivation for visiting Tulum and it did not disappoint!! This beautiful outdoor raw cafe is on the property of one of the beachfront resorts, and it was somehow even more amazing than I imagined. There are no words to describe their raw desserts.

Posada Margherita: Beautiful beautiful Italian restaurant along the beach road. I’m running out of adjectives to describe how amazing all of the spots in Tulum are, but this place is just soo…well, beautiful! And the food is delicious, and yeah just go.

Mateos: Nothing particularly amazing about the food here, but you can go up to the top level and get great views of the sunset!

Heartwood: I didn’t actually make it here because you need to make resos well in advance, but if you’re planning a trip to Tulum, make a reservation!! The food is supposed to be amazing.

These are just a few of the many amazing food spots!

BEACHES

There is a public beach you can go to, and it’s gorgeous, but I actually only went here once during my whole trip! Other than that I would go to the beaches of the beach resorts. Basically, you can go onto any of the resorts (again, they’re not resorts like you think of in Cancun) and as long as you buy a drink or whatever at their restaurant, you can hang out on the beach. I loved getting food at Raw Love and then staying on their beach.

GETTING AROUND

As if Tulum weren’t Insta-worthy enough already, all of the tourists get around town on these cute little city bikes. There are bike rental places, and some of the accommodations include free bikes. You can also walk of course, and taxis are really cheap as well.

Some friends and I rented a car one day so we could see some things outside of town, and it’s soo cheap! Right off the town road, on the road that takes you down to the beach, you’ll find a strip of car rental places. Don’t pay the initial price! We went into the first place, they gave us a price, and then we said we were just going to check out the other places to compare, and they instantly dropped down the price to like a quarter of the original.

A note on haggling in Mexico: As a general rule, from my experience and from what I heard from other tourists and expats, haggling is not really a thing in Mexico. The car rental place was really the only time a price was significantly dropped. For the most part, the prices are what they are, they’re not trying to screw you over, and if you try to bargain they’ll generally just say no.

Hmm there’s probably lots that I’m missing, so message me if you have any questions. On this trip, I also visited Mexico City (amazing place!!! I could live there), Puerto Vallarta (skip!), Sayulita (LOVED! Similar vibe to Tulum, though on the Pacific so you’re not getting the white sand beaches), San Miguel de Allende (beautiful), Isla Mujeres (very touristy, but beautiful. Consider nearby Isla Holbox if you want less touristy but same beauty), Bacalar (another skip in my opinion), and Puerto Escondido (cool! But preferred Tulum and Sayulita- but a lot of people are obsessed so worth considering). Send me a message if you want more info on any of these places.

I absolutely fell in love with Mexico in the 2 months I spent there. Such an amazing amazing country. The food, the people, the culture, the beaches, the towns, everything is just so good!!! Go! Just book your ticket and go.

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May 28

My Healthy Food Guide to NYC

May 28

Eating is obviously one of the best parts of travelling, and for a health lover like me, my idea of a good time is trying and discovering new and delicious healthy places to eat while I’m on vacation!

So today I’m sharing all of the delicious healthy restaurants and meals I had in New York. Consider this your (mostly) Healthy Food Guide to NYC! And in case you missed is, check out My Spiritual Guide to NYC, where I shared my favourite yoga studios, meditation classes, and spiritual hot spots

Alright, let’s talk food!

Smoothie Bars

So not sure if you’ve heard, but I’m kind of obsessed with smoothies :p SO I of course had to check out all of the smoothie places in the city that I always hear about on Instagram! The following places all have locations all over the city.

Juice Press: Yum!!! I went to this place repeatedly! Their smoothies are delish, and they have samples in the fridge section for you to try (they say limit yourself to 1, but please. I sampled everything I could get my hands on). The Almond Butter Cup is beyond.

Juice Generation: I only went here once, but their Peanut Butter Split was so good!

Liquitaria: This place tied is tied with Juice Press as my fave The Blue Velvet (I ordered it without protein powder) is amaze.

The Juice Shoppe NY: This one was probably my least favourite just because the smoothie I got had that starchy taste like they used green bananas, which is the worst! But I’m sure it’s not always like this.

Restaurants

Hu Kitchen: Omg this place is the bomb.com. It’s located on 5th Ave., just a short walk from Washington Square Park, which was one of my fave places to hang out, so I loved grabbing some food from Hu, and heading over to the park. Yum! Paleo peeps will be in heaven, but there is really something for everyone (I’m not even close to being Paleo, and I loved it). It’s cafeteria style, and then there’s a bunch of seating down and upstairs.
Try their Iced coffee and Iced tea (in the fridge section), their smoothies, and any and all of their buffet food.
78 5th Ave.

Dimes: This place is cool, and it knows it (and I don’t mean that in a bad way!). I had a delicious acai bowl and an amazing iced tea latte, but really everything on the menu looked healthy, fresh, and delicious.
49 Canal St., Lower East Side

Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant: I wouldn’t call this place healthy, but it is delicious! My friend took me here, and we had the best soup dumplings and fried rice and something else that I’m blanking on. There are a few locations, but we went to the one in Chinatown, which is apparently the best, and there’s usually a long wait but we managed to walk right in. Check it out!
9 Pell St., Chinatown

Jivamukti Cafe: Yum, this delicious and healthy cafe is located right in the Jivamukti Yoga Studio. It’s brightly coloured, has an awesome (though busy!) atmosphere and has a huge menu full of nourishing foods- perfect for following up with after an awesome yoga class. I got the kitchari and green salad.
841 Broadway, 2nd fl.

Gingersnap’s Organic: I originally went to Gingersnap’s for their Wednesday night Miracles Nights (a discussion of A Course in Miracles led by Bridget Trama), but I went back the next day to eat. I decided to get a smoothie, but they also have a menu full of delicious looking vegan and raw meals! It has such an awesome vibe, and they have a spiritual library that you can browse while you eat. This is definitely somewhere I’d be hanging out at if I lived in the city.
113 W 10th St.

Whole Foods: Whole Foods is my mecca. I’ve been to one in Toronto, and it seemed more like an over priced grocery store, but the ones in the States are fabulous. And while some things seem overpriced, the majority are totally reasonable and the same or less than you’d pay in a grocery store here. I’d get meals and groceries here and go sit in a park and eat (there’s one right next to Central Park in Columbus Circle). Their quinoa sushi is amazing and their pay-per-weight buffet selection is as well (I’m running out of adjectives to describe food! Awesome, delish, amazing- you get the point, it was all good!).

Snacks and Cafes

Momofuko Milk Truffles: These are not healthy in any way shape or form, but they are unbelievably good, so they are making the list! Momofuko is a noodle bar, which I didn’t go to, but they also have a stand in Madison Square Park where they sell dessert. Birthday Cake Truffles = Sugar hangover inducing but life changing!!! There are also lots of other delicious looking food stands in the Madison Square Park Eatery!
Madison Square Park Eatery

Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market is a beautiful food market in the Meatpacking District. I’m not talking farmers market, but more like lots of little cafes and mini restaurants and shops. It’s a really great atmosphere (but I bet it’s wildly busy during weekends and tourist season), and has something for everyone. It’s right next to the High Line (an old railroad track which has been converted into a beautiful park).
75 9th Ave., Meatpacking District.

Chinatown: Chinatown sells every fruit you could ever dream of, which for me pretty much means it’s heaven. I actually bought Jackfruit and Durian, which I never thought I’d be able to get outside of the tropics! So cool

Durian!

Maman NYC: The prettiest cafe ever! I discovered it on my last day after an awesome Kundalini class at Golden Bridge Yoga. Delicious Iced Coffees.
239 Centre St., Little Italy

Laduree: Not healthy, but totally worth it! There are a couple of locations in the city, and we went to the one in the Upper East Side. It’s a little store/cafe that sells macarons that are actually flown in from Paris daily! Does it get any fancier than that? I think not.
864 Madison Ave., Upper East Side (even the address sounds super classy!)

Omg that list is longer than I thought! Turns out I ate a lot of food on my trip haha. I also got groceries (from Whole Foods and the fruit carts on the side of the street), and made most of my breakfasts and dinners at my friend’s apartment where I was staying, so now idea how I fit all of this in, but where there’s a will there’s a way am I right? :p

For Next Time

I still missed quite a few places, which I will be getting to next time, including…

ABC Carpet & Home: The most beautiful home decor store ever also has a gorgeous restaurant. I looked in while I was there but didn’t go in to eat. Next time for sure!
888 Broadway

One Lucky Duck: Raw Food and Smoothies, located in Chelsea Market.

Souen: Macrobiotic restaurant with locations in Soho, Union Square, and the East Village.

El Rey: This place comes highly recommended- based on the menu and website it looks like it has a healthy delicious hipster vibe.

So there you have it! My NYC Healthy Food Guide What are your favourite places?

I swear I did more than just eat on my trip :p Check out My Spiritual Guide to NYC for a list of my favourite places and activities!

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May 21

My Spiritual Guide to New York City

May 21

So on my recent trip to New York, I didn’t do any of the typical touristy things- no Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Broadway show or any museums. It’s not that I think there’s anything wrong with these things, it’s just not what I was there for! My week in New York was all about smoothies, meditating, yoga, and walking through the many amazing Manhattan neighbourhoods. I had the most amazing time, and now I am so excited to share with you My Spiritual Guide to New York City.

The following are all of the spiritually centred places and spaces that I visited in NYC.

Strala Yoga: Yoga superstar Tara Stiles’ studio is everything I imagined a New York studio would look like: bright, high ceilings, zen, and so cool. Tara teaches tons of classes, so you should have no trouble making it to one of hers, but the other instructors are amazing as well (I went to three classes while I was in the city). I got to chat with Tara after one of her classes, and she was so sweet and friendly and easy to talk to. Get a 1 week pass for only $20!

Jivamukti Yoga and Cafe: I love Jivamukti Yoga, and so I was so excited to check out its birthplace at the Jivamukti Studio in NYC. Spotty for a class or workshop before heading over to their cafe for a delicious healthy post yoga meal or smoothie!

Golden Bridge Yoga: I have to say this was my favourite studio in the city. I love Kundalini yoga, and this is Gurmukhi’s New York studio. Check it out for powerful Kundalini classes and amazing workshops. I did 2 classes there and they were so awesome. As soon as I got back to Halifax, I signed up for their Online Studio. It doesn’t say on their website, but you can get a 2 week pass for $30.

The Path: I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not, but my favourite and most peaceful day in New York was the one that I started with The Path’s morning meditation. The Path leads 40 minute meditations a few times a week, and each meditation incorporates a few different techniques (in the one I went to, we did Kundalini Kriyas, Body Awareness, and Focused Breathing techniques). Sessions are $20 and details are available on their site.

ABC Carpet & Home: Not only is this a home decor wonderland, it also hosts tons of spiritual events and lectures. There were none going on when I was there, but check out their event listings. I went anyway because it’s an amazing place to see (6 floors of beautiful home decor and accessories),and they have a gorgeous restaurant. Teachers like Deepak Chopra and Gabrielle Bernstein hold events here, and Elena Bower holds weekly Saturday yoga classes here!

Miracles Night at Gingersnap’s Organic: On Wednesday evenings from 8-9, Gingersnaps Organic hosts Miracles Night, a lively and down to earth discussion of the teachings of A Course In Miracles, led by Bridget Trama. I’d been casually studying The Course for a year and a half, but I’d never gone to a group discussion on the material, so I really enjoyed this! It’s a pretty young crown, which is fun, but all ages are welcome! There’s a suggested donation of $10, and it fills up quick so you need to email in advance to secure your spot!

Oh and don’t forget to go back during the day to grab a smoothie and peruse their spiritual library

Parks: There are so many beautiful parks in the city, and I went to one almost every day to do some Earthing (so important in a hectic city like New York!) and to read the spiritual books I’d brought with me (True Prosperity and Brida). My favourites were Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, and of course Central Park).

5 Rhythms: I went to a 5 Rhythms class, but to be honest I only stayed for half an our of the 2 hours. It’s a free flowing guided dance class, so they offer guidance but really you’re dancing however you please. I’d taken classes like this before and they’re kind of cool, but I get a bit bored. But if it interests you, check it out!

Healthy Food: I went to a lot of delicious and healthy restaurants and smoothies in NYC- check out my full guide here!

Things for next time,

I didn’t make it to all of the things on my list, so next time I think I’ll check out…

S-Factor: These pole dancing classes, created by Sheila Kelly, are famous! You can get a coupon code on their website.

Maha Rose Centre for Healing: This Brooklyn based healing centre looks so cool! Unfortunately I didn’t make it over to Brooklyn at all (well other than the two times I accidentally took the Subway the wrong direction). I’ll definitely be checking it out next time I’m in the city.

Bhakti Centre: My friend said that they hold great kirtans on Thursday nights!

Equinox: This one isn’t necessarily ‘spiritual,’ but I’d love to see if you can get a day pass to the famous gym chain because I think fancy gyms are cool!

I know I haven’t even scratched the surface of amazing spiritual destinations in the city, but I think this was a really great starting off point I can’t wait to go back and find more spiritual gems.

What are your favourite spiritual destinations in NYC? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Follow me and my spiritual journey on Instagram at @myspiritualroadtrip and share yours with us using #myspiritualroadtrip

Have a wonderful day, and if you’re planning a trip, enjoy New York! It is an incredible city, and you will love it!

xoxo

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May 18

NYC & Philly

May 18

Hey Everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend

I just got back from my week in NYC and Philly, and I think it’s safe to say that it was one of the best weeks of my life.

To be honest, it’s not even like anything exceptional happened (I didn’t run into T Swift, like I’d planned :p ), but I just had so much fun and loved every moment of being there.

New York is an amazing city- there is an never ending amount of things to do and see, and at the same time I felt really relaxed and peaceful the whole time I was there. I saw tons and missed tons, but I’ll get to those in my future visits.

In New York, I stayed with my friend Chelsea, whom I went to high school with. I had so much fun hanging out with her. We actually weren’t that close in school, and so I feel like I not only had an awesome trip but I also made an awesome friendship <3

By a super awesome coincidence (majorly overusing the word awesome but can’t think of a suitable alternative), my friend Wes happened to be visiting NYC while I was there! Wes and I both lived in Halifax together, but he recently moved to Toronto, so I don’t get to see him nearly enough anymore. p.s. everytime a picture of us goes up on Facebook I get messages from people asking about my new boyfriend :p We are not dating, but I think he is pretty awesome <3

I’m not really a fan of tourist attractions, so I didn’t do any while I was there- no Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Top of The Rock, Broadway, or anything. Instead, I spent my days walking for hours, going to parks, eating really good food, doing yoga, and just enjoying the city. I’m going to do some future posts about Where I Ate in NYC and My Spiritual Guide to NYC.

I also went to Philly for a day to see an Abraham Hicks event, which I’ll also be writing about. Philly was so beautiful, but I was basically in and out because I wanted to get back to New York!