travel diaries: WHAT TO DO IN sparkly NEW YORK
Featuring Must-See Sights, Moments, Special Features, and Mini-Itineraries Made Uniquely for the Season of Travel.
The big apple is notorious for being arguably “the best city in the world.” Today, we will be going in-depth into how to make the most of your trip or move to this sparkling city of NEW YORK, without just thinking about Miss. Liberty… (but we love her too, so check her out as well.)
BUT FIRST, HERE IS TODAYS mix
Must see sights, off the bat
To make it easier for you, here is a list of must-see sights you absolutely have to visit if you are in the area. First off, we have:
The Empire State Building, located in Midtown Manhattan.
Empire State Building, 1,451 ft. Now the 9th Tallest Building in the United States.
This sight is for anyone into, seeing sights. This empire held the title of “the worlds tallest building” until the 70’s, yet still stands to be 102 stories high. Whether you witness it from the ground-up, or decide to purchase a ticket to take the magical elevator ride up to the top, the view is worth it.
Next up:
Times Square (at night)
Times Square, Broadway and 42nd Street. Originally Called Longacre Square.
No matter what time of year your visit NY, make sure you get a chance to walk through the neon lights, wild art-shows, and imagination that is the buzz of Times Square. This district is bustling with street artists, food vendors, and is a shopping central. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, because this area hosts some of favorites, including:
Hard Rock Cafe (for the ones with soul).
New York Gifts (multiple locations, great for the necessary souvenir).
M&Ms Store (I don’t even like them, but the factory and the cartoons have my heart).
Is nothing standing out? No worries. You can find more information on the Time Square area here.
Moving on, for the nature-lovers in need of fresher air, I highly recommend taking a walk around Central Park. Located in the upper east side, the park is known for its lush meadows, gardens, bridges, master architecture, and history as the first landscaped public park in the states.
The Heart of Central Park, At the Lake
The 90’s sitcom TV show Friends, features a cafe named “Central Perk” where they would hang out, in reference to the park. The show stole the hearts of many around the world, and continues to. I wanted to quickly give a shout out to Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing, arguably the funniest and most charming man in the show. If you didn’t already know, he passed away in 2023, and the news shocked the world.
mini itineraries, depending on the season
The city has perks all year-around, but there are some events that suit some seasons more than others. There are also occasions that only happen seasonally, so lets dive in.
Spring
For breakfast, grab a croissant and visit Tiffany & Co, where you can recreate scenes played by Audrey Hepburn in the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Grab all your friends and some coffee, and have a picnic at Central Park.
Hit a baseball game, grab some cracker jack, and root for The Yankee’s!
Tiffany and Co., NYC Landmark & Legacy
Summer
Get out of the heat, and wander the Museum of Natural History. Take advantage of this opportunity, along with the other museums, and witness a world of the Jurassic time period.
Take a visit to China Town. The last time I found myself in SoHo, I got caught up in singing alongside some party people who know how to have fun. You never know what you will get here, but I recommend taking it in with some steamed dumplings and boba tea.
Slide on some shades, and walk until you see something that speaks to you! Then treat yourself to some ice cream, because its summer babes, and you must be hot. All my readers are ;)
China Town
Fall
Booklovers unite. Feed into your inner-worm at the NYC Public Library. (Hint: it has some of the most visually stunning architecture, and ceilings that will make you crane you neck until it hurts because you simply can’t look away…)
Wrap up in a scarf, slip on some boots, and take a stroll around Central Park. I know I mentioned this one already, but I did I mention how beautiful it is in autumn? No, I don’t think I did. Do yourself a favor and bless your eyes with this one.
Get ready to feel like royalty, and attend the Metropolitan Opera. Feed your soul with the music and movement it has been lacking with this romantic event in the coziest time of year.
Candles in the Opera
Winter
New York in the winter can get brutal. So first things first, BUNDLE. UP. I cannot stress this enough. Once you are covered, find yourself seated before velvet curtains. Broadway is something everything should experience at least once in their life, and there is no better time than where the homebase is located. So, grab some popcorn, and prepare to laugh, cry, and have chills sent down your entire body with some of the worlds most talented and raw performances.
This one is for everyone. Bryant Park kindly sets up an ice skating rink during the most wonderful time of the year. Surrounding the ice is hot food, hot cafes, and all the hot chocolate you could ask for.
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, simply taking one look at the Rockefeller center annual tree lighting is a sight for sore eyes. This tradition is one that will forever be evergreen, and brings joyful tears to thousands of eyes every year.
Broadway, Where Dreams Come Alive
for the food-lovers… & did someone say shopping?
Although you’ll never go hungry in this city, I thought I would mention my personal favorite place to try a little bit of everything from all the cuisines, all in one place. I said it once, and I’ll say it again. Be sure to check out Bryant Park, located in Midtown. It is a section surrounding seasonal gardens that hold many events. Aside from food, you cannot neglect the shopping scene here. It is a lot more unique and adventurous that the big chains, because the stores are run by small businesses that sell the most amazing creations.
Le Carrousel, at Bryant Park
Bryant Park is ideal for families, because it has a little bit of everything of everyone. Shopping for gifts, and bites to eat are a special feature that you cannot miss out on. The art scene is huge in the city, and if you are looking to support the local artists, here is a great place to do so. Many of the shops hold atypical products that made for great presents. Coasters with eye-catching photography, hand-made bags made from recycled books, metal creatures… just to name a few.
After shopping, its smart to re-fuel. The last time I was in the area, there seemed to be endless options to choose from. Every corner that I turned featured more and more delicious smelling cuisine. Crepes, hot chocolate, dumplings, waffles… its a wonderland for the taste buds.
WILD THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT NY
Looking to get out of your comfort zone? This is the place. Here are some things about this city that are noteworthy.
Miss Mary jane is legal. Yes, you read that right. Recreational us of marijuana is allowed in the state of New York. So if you are 21 and up, don’t be afraid to light up! 420 is being celebrated in the streets daily.
The city alone is home to over 800 different spoken languages. So keep an ear out as you walk around, you will be surrounded by the most linguistically mixed area marked on the globe.
It is illegal to honk car horns without reason. The noise pollution is being dealt with, and there is a fine for unreasonable honking of horns. You will still get the full, noisy experience though, trust me. Hailing taxi’s, street-sellers, performers, the swarm of ideas… it will be buzzing, day and night. Just maybe with a few less honks than back in the day.
Last but certainly not least, no matter where you go, enjoy the wonders of the city. There truly is something for everyone, you just need to keep and open mind, open eyes, and be willing to embrace something new.
Sky View of the City in Daylight
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