- Description
- Lauren Koch is a native New Yorker who enjoys exploring Oakland’s art scene and sharing her musings on the digital world and alternative culture.
![Snorkeling is fun, but being able to see the ocean floor when SCUBA diving is a surreal experience. Visually and physically, it feels like you are discovering another planet. Despite […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/scuba-diving-115x115.jpg "PHOTOS: What to expect at your first SCUBA dive in Hawaii – tips for surviving PADI certification")
![Today’s post is written and photographed by Lauren Koch, our San Francisco correspondent. Largely covered in blankets of snow and ice in winter, Iceland lives up to its name, coined […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/iceland-downtown-traveler-115x115.jpg "Top 5 winter attractions in Reykjavik (and the best place to watch the Northern Lights)")
![Despite its reputation for chilly summers, San Francisco has its share of sunny days. When the sun does comes out, locals head to outdoor bars to get their craft beer […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/San-Francisco-Beer-Garden-115x115.jpg "The 5 best outdoor bars in San Francisco (photos)")
![Hayes Valley offers great eats & European charm Perhaps you’ve seen the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, driven down Lombard Street, and Instagrammed your shopping trip to Union Square—and now […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nitrogenicecream-115x115.jpg "Top 5 foodie attractions in Hayes Valley, a San Francisco neighborhood with European charm")
![San Francisco is known for being a city where “anything goes” — including acceptance and celebration of just about every fetish known to man. While the city’s anti-nudity law went […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dog-man-115x115.jpg "For VERY adventurous travelers: Top 5 sexy attractions in San Francisco")
![Lobster shacks appear to be everywhere in coastal Maine, but finding the right one can be an adventure. On a recent holiday I asked a Maine resident where the best […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/lobsterroll-115x115.jpg "A quest for the best lobster roll in Coastal Maine (photos)")
![Oakland, California-– known as an up-and-coming city just east of San Francisco-– is becoming a hot spot for visual art. The emerging art and bar scene has led to Oakland […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/faceshot-lauren-115x115.jpg "Explore the Oakland art scene at Art Murmur gallery night")
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
NYC memories: Growing up in the East Village in the 1950s
NYC memories: Growing up in the East Village in the 1950s
NYC memories: Growing up in the East Village in the 1950s
How to take a baby on a plane: Tips for seat assignments, feeding and diaper change
22 Badass Cosplay Weapons from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)
How to take a baby on the New York City subway – tips for new moms
How to take a baby on the New York City subway – tips for new moms
Top 5 winter attractions in Reykjavik (and the best place to watch the Northern Lights)
-
![Great- now other passengers roll their eyes at YOU! I was the person who always groaned when a couple with a baby approached my row on an airplane. Sitting next […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sleeping-baby-on-a-plane-36x36.jpg "How to take a baby on a plane: Tips for seat assignments, feeding and diaper change")
How to take a baby on a plane: Tips for seat assignments, feeding and diaper change
04 May 2015 4:20 PM | 1 Comment -
![Germs, crazy people and tons of stairs are just a few reasons I hesitated to take my newborn baby on the New York City subway. I’ve been more adventurous than […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Baby-on-NYC-Subway-1-36x36.jpg "How to take a baby on the New York City subway – tips for new moms")
How to take a baby on the New York City subway – tips for new moms
19 March 2015 3:53 PM | 6 Comments -
![This review is written by Downtown Traveler contributor Claudia Oddo, a first-time visitor to Blackout Haunted House. In 2014, Blackout plays by new rules. Do not speak unless instructed to […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Claudia-blackout-36x36.jpg "Review: What to expect at Blackout Haunted House in New York City (Halloween 2014)")
Review: What to expect at Blackout Haunted House in New York City (Halloween 2014)
22 October 2014 10:12 PM | 3 Comments -
![New Yorkers, get ready to face your fears. Now in its 11th season, Nightmare haunted house stays fresh by embracing a new theme each year. The 2014 haunt, New York, pays […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/nightmare-haunted-house-2-36x36.jpg "Experience NYC’s scary past at Nightmare haunted house (2014 review)")
Experience NYC’s scary past at Nightmare haunted house (2014 review)
22 October 2014 9:08 PM | No Comments -
![Got scythes? If you’ve always dreamed of wielding a massive sword, scythe, hammer or gun, then you need to get yourself to NY Comic Con. It’s a safe place to […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-COMIC-CON-WEAPON-LINX-36x36.jpg "22 Badass Cosplay Weapons from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)")
22 Badass Cosplay Weapons from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)
12 October 2014 8:49 PM | 18 Comments -
![What kid doesn’t like dressing up for Halloween? The only thing better is dressing up on a random day, meeting up with tens of thousands of like-minded peers, and receiving […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-Comic-Con-Baby-Batman-36x36.jpg "23 Creative Kids Costumes from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)")
23 Creative Kids Costumes from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)
12 October 2014 11:54 AM | 1 Comment -
![Think all the attendees of NY Comic Con look like “Comic Book Guy” from The Simpsons? Get with the program… this is 2014! The annual pop-culture convention at the Javits […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-Comic-Con-Womens-Costume-36x36.jpg "Top 10 Trends in Womens Costumes at NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)")
Top 10 Trends in Womens Costumes at NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)
12 October 2014 10:39 AM | 4 Comments -
![Today’s post is written by Claudia Oddo, a New York City-based writer and editor of NewYorkerAbroad.com. This was her first time visiting a New York City haunted house. You haven’t […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/10608518_10203403847080894_3987049205411782236_o-36x36.jpg "Celebrating 10 Years of Terror: 5 Reasons to Visit NYC’s Blood Manor Haunted House")
Celebrating 10 Years of Terror: 5 Reasons to Visit NYC’s Blood Manor Haunted House
28 September 2014 7:25 PM | 1 Comment
-
![Our brush with a 12-foot gator in the Louisiana bayou There’s a reason swamp tours are a top attraction in Louisiana’s Cajun Country: alligators are dangerous, sexy and cool. Who […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Screen-Shot-2013-06-22-at-7.16.47-PM-36x36.png "PHOTOS: Alligator sighting! A kayak tour of the Lousiana bayou")
PHOTOS: Alligator sighting! A kayak tour of the Lousiana bayou
23 June 2013 9:18 PM | 13 Comments -
![Would you like a craft beer with your jambalaya? Cajun Country is not traditionally known for its craft beer, but locals clearly appreciate a fine brew. Karlos Knott, owner of […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Louisiana-Getaway-Cajun-Country-2-15-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Cajun Country brewery pairs craft beers with traditional Louisiana dishes")
PHOTOS: Cajun Country brewery pairs craft beers with traditional Louisiana dishes
31 March 2013 1:59 PM | 1 Comment -
![Really? A World War II museum? I was skeptical when a coworker told me I absolutely had to visit the National World War II Museum during my vacation in New […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_1443-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Art and History at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans")
PHOTOS: Art and History at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans
13 January 2013 8:50 PM | 6 Comments -
![I never thought frog’s legs would be the highlight of my vacation. Cajun Country is well-known for its unique cuisine, from gumbo to crawfish etouffee. This fall I had the […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cajun-Cuisine_Grilled-Alligator-36x36.jpg "Top 10 traditional Cajun Country foods- from alligator to cracklins")
Top 10 traditional Cajun Country foods- from alligator to cracklins
09 December 2012 4:16 PM | 14 Comments -
![Local food is all the rage and one farm in Cajun Country has taken it to a new level. At family-run Belle Ecorce Farms, you can sample artisanal goat cheeses […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Louisiana-Getaway-Cajun-Country-6-3-36x36.jpg "Meet the goat behind your cheese at Belle Ecorce Farms – Cajun Country road trip")
Meet the goat behind your cheese at Belle Ecorce Farms – Cajun Country road trip
02 December 2012 12:27 PM | 14 Comments -
![New York may host the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but New Orleans has something better: the Bayou Classic. This New Orleans Thanksgiving parade features lively bands, dancers and a seemingly […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_1226-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Beads and bands at the New Orleans Thanksgiving Parade")
PHOTOS: Beads and bands at the New Orleans Thanksgiving Parade
25 November 2012 7:05 PM | 12 Comments -
![Jazz, fine dining and public drinking: the perfect getaway? Seven years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, New Orleans is once again a bustling weekend getaway and bachelor(ette) party destination. […]](http://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0277-36x36.jpg "First Impressions of New Orleans: Bourbon Street (Photos)")
First Impressions of New Orleans: Bourbon Street (Photos)
18 November 2012 11:27 AM | 14 Comments
