Visiting New York City was a dream come true. I’ve dreamed about visiting New York for my entire life and I am so grateful that I am at a point in my life where I can self fund my trips and think this is only the beginning of my travels.
I ended up arriving to New York by myself which meant that I was able to really soak everything in and process in all of the feelings that I had seeing the skyline, walking around the bustling city, feeling the New York City energy. (It’s def real)
This post is a continuation of my DC travel diary and guide. After spending a few days in DC- I made the trip from DC to New York City and spend 5 days exploring the city.
Where we stayed:
We stayed at The Jane, which was recommended by my boss. I am so thankful that she recommended it because it was so perfect. If you are visiting New York City, especially for the first time- West village is the perfect neighborhood to stay in. It was very walkable, safe, and affordable.
What we did:
Before this trip, I created a google map with stars on places that I wanted to visit. But I mainly wanted to wander- to walk around the streets of New York to find cuteness around the corners and I found all of the cuteness along with the confidence and courage to travel and sightsee alone.
- Central Park– I did not realize how big central park is until I began trying to walk one side of it to the other to get to the MET. Turns out Central Park is 2.5 miles long from south to north, so you can easily spend an entire day exploring the bridges, fountains, and statues.
- The MET is now my favorite museum in the world- it has Claude Monet, fashion exhibitions, gossip girl stairs, and it is walking distance from Central Park.
- CAMP: Notes on Fashion Exhibition, inside the MET. “Through more than 250 objects dating from the seventeenth century to the present, The Costume Institute’s spring 2019 exhibition explores the origins of camp’s exuberant aesthetic. Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp'” provides the framework for the exhibition, which examines how the elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration are expressed in fashion.”
- The MOMA- one of my favorite exhibition rooms is the Good Design room, where I saw a quote “Good Design depends on the harmony established between the form of an object and its use.”
- The High Line– The Highline is an old train track that has been recreated into a pedestrian walkway. One of the nights on our way back from midtown we walked the Highline and caught so many good views of the New York Skyline.
- Chelsea Market– a dream marketplace, Chelsea market is filled with local vendors and delicious eateries- including the highly rated, Los Tacos # 1 and as an avid taco lover, I can confidently say that the Tacos Al Pastor will transport you into southern Mexico, with its deliciously authentic meat, tortillas, and pineapple toppings.
- Washington Park: I’ve always referred to Washington Park as the Park where Jess and Rory met up in Gilmore Girls. Washington Park has a replica of the Arc the Tromp from France and is really close to NYU. I recommend walking around the neighborhood, seeing the fountain, and eating a delicious bowl of oatmeal at OatMeal.
What we ate:
Before visiting NYC, I was told that the water is very clean, which makes the pizza, and bagels so good- and I can confirm. The pizza is amazing- I tried the pizza from Bleeker Street Pizza in West Village and the bagels are delicious- we tried the Brooklyn bagel and coffee shop and I had an everything bagel with scallions.
- Maman Coffee– one of my favorite coffee shops, the vintage, french country vibes make this place so dreamy.
- Time Square– As an introvert, time Square is very overstimulating and oversaturated. Every square inch of space is filled with a video ad trying to grab your attention. I walked by time square twice and felt that it was more than enough. It is definitely something to experience if it is your first time in New York and I definitely recommend watching a Broadway show! I watched Waitress The Musical and I loved it.
- Shopping in SoHo: A few of my favorite brands have flagship stores in Soho, including- Sezane, Cuyana, Everlane
Although I spent a lot of time in New York- there are still more things left to see- like visiting the statue of liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, visiting upper manhattan. I can’t wait to go back.
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