Photo By: Christian Stadler*

There is nothing like seeing a city or town firsthand. Exploring, getting lost, taking in the sights, noises, smells . . . all of it creates ingrained and important memories and associations that typically span a lifetime.

New York City is one of the most iconic destinations in the world. Countless visitors have graced its streets and there are a multitude of unforgettable experiences to be had; looking over the city from the top of the Empire State Building, ascending the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, world-famous museums, a seemingly endless litany of amazing restaurants and shopping spots, and the list goes on and on.

Imagine experiencing Manhattan from the viewpoint of a bike. Not just any bike, but one that is actually involved in a race, dodging pedestrians and vehicles, daring to sail through taxi infested waters. I read a Gawker article titled “A Perilous First-Person Bike Race Through Manhattan,” in which a bicyclist videoed a race through Manhattan, allowing you to see everything from his vantage point. Safety is obviously not a concern for the rider that taped this, making it that much more enjoyable to watch, but winning the race is. It’s a unique and mesmerizing way to see the city and gives a completely different perspective than the one you would probably have from taking a leisurely stroll in which you slowly and calculatedly take the sights in.

Broadway Bombing 2010 from crihs on Vimeo.

We Want to Know:

• What is the best way to see your community and why?
• In what ways do you like to take in and explore new places?

The way in which a community is viewed is influenced heavily by the perspective of the viewer. Sometimes this can lead to a more favorable or less favorable perception of place. We would love to hear your thoughts. Start the discussion below!

*Untitled|Manhattan. Christian and Flora Stadler’s photos can be seen on the blog Eye Heart NYC.

Photo By: Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

We all love to travel. As a wannabe foreign correspondent, I know I’ve spent my fair share of time daydreaming about incredible adventures in Nepal, Senegal, Peru or a million other far-off places in the world. The problem is, travel can be expensive, and while many of us would love an opportunity to go abroad for awhile, we don’t always have the means to do it. Despite our desire, we’re not all able to pack up our suitcases and say goodbye to our communities.

But maybe we don’t have to.

For all those travel junkies in need of a fix, New York City’s Ed Casabian, 29, may have found an answer:

Don’t leave your community; just learn to travel within it.

Nicknamed the “N.Y.C. Nomad,” Casabian is in the midst of a yearlong journey through his own city, picking up and moving to a different home in a different neighborhood every Sunday. A financial analyst for a local news website, he got the idea when he and his girlfriend ended their seven-year relationship and he needed to move out of their co-op. In a state of depression, he tried to come up with a plan for the next few months. “Thinking about the happiest times of my life, it was when I was traveling, exploring and meeting new people,” he told The New York Times, who recently wrote an article about his adventure. “Couldn’t I just travel in my own city?”

Photo By: Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

Yes, he thought, and so he does. Armed with a camping backpack, an air mattress, two weeks’ of clothes, a business suit and a tennis racket, Casabian has been traveling for six months now, and at this point he’s seen about 20 different neighborhoods.

In each new location, he pays his hosts not with money, but with home-cooked meals and nights out in the city. And as he makes new friends along the way, he helps them rediscover the unique beauty of their own neighborhoods.

Get the conversation started!

We want to know:

• What do you think of the “N.Y.C. Nomad”? Would you ever pursue a similar adventure? Why or why not?
• What places would you like to explore in your own community?

These thoughts were inspired by an article in The New York Times, entitled “In This Journey, Every Sunday is Moving Day.” Casabian also writes about his journey at thenycnomad.tumblr.com.

Home page picture by: Kprateek88