So continuing on with my series on my time spent in New York, I wanted to share with you a few of my favourite quintessentially “touristy” things to do either when you first move over or if you’re just going on a vacation to the great city. Just a quick tip, personally I found that the longer I lived there, the less likely I became to go and see these undeniably must-see sites. Purely because you get so caught up with other things going on such as work, settling into your apartment and discovering other things in the vast areas of the city and other boroughs so I’d recommend if you move over on a graduate visa, try and see these sites as early as you can.
Let’s jump into it!
5) Brooklyn Bridge/DUMBO
What can I say? The views from the Brooklyn Bridge are second to none. I walked from the Manhattan side over to Brooklyn and then spent some time wondering around the delightfully picturesque DUMBO area, which if you’re a fan of Gossip Girl like me, you’ll recognize as being an area for many scenes, and also the location of the Humphries apartment on the show (see picture above) There are also a number of stunning thrift stores within walking distance around the area which are in my opinion a must see even if you don’t buy anything, the vibe around the area is so chill. When you’re tired of walking around and in the mood for a snack I’d recommend checking out the famous Grimaldi’s Pizzeria here located in a small spot right under the bridge, however give yourself plenty of time as there is always a line to get in.
4) Shopping in Macy’s/Herald Square
Unfortunately I don’t have any usable pictures of Macy’s or Herald Square which is weird considering I worked around the corner from there for almost 2 years but ANYWAY, this area is simply a Mecca for shopping lovers. The Macy’s in Herald Square is the flagship location of the chain and one of the largest department stores in the world. Even after living and working in New York for a significant amount of time and visiting Macy’s frequently I still to this day don’t know my way around the massive store. It takes up the whole block with an entire floor dedicated to beauty and skincare brands. You can literally pick up anything from a microwave to foundation in the superstore so if shopping is your thing then I would really set aside a good bit of time to see every section OR have a well thought out plan of exactly what you want to buy and the brands you want to browse before going in as it can be very overwhelming. If you happen to be lucky enough to be visiting around Christmas time they put on the most beautiful display in the front windows and the front hall of the beauty floor is decorated magnificently. Stepping outside then into Herald Square you have all the you’d need such as Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21 and Sephora. The only thing that’s not there or in the close by area Times Square that I personally missed was Topshop, however the closest store still isn’t that far, located on 5th Avenue between 48th and 49th Street.
3) Coney Island
So this is definitely more of a popular location in its peak Summertime season as the parks and rides only open for June, July and August. However you can still visit the area off season, it’s just more of an eerie and ghostly experience as a result of the rides being turned off and the lack of people walking around. Just be warned if you are there in the Summer, it gets crazy crowded and messy. So keep your friends and/or kids very close if you don’t want to lose them in a sea of hundreds of tourists and holiday makers.
2) Loeb Boathouse Central Park
Central Park goes without saying as being one of the most famous tourist attractions and home to the most beautiful views the city has to offer. From the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (pictured below) to the beautiful Bow Bridge in the Autumn, but my personal favourite site in the whole park is the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and right across the water from there, the stunning Loeb Boathouse restaurant. This insanely popular dining spot gets extremely busy in the Summer and it’s understandable why as you get a beautiful view of the water and everyone renting out the row boats while sipping on a glass of wine or your cocktail of choice. Now bare in mind, this place is pretty expensive but honestly, I think to experience one of the most incredible and relaxing, romantic settings in the city it’s a small price to pay, even if it’s just a once-off.
1) Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Need I say anything else? The picture pretty much speaks for itself. The tree goes up usually some time around the last week in December until the first week in January and I know everyone tells you it’s amazing and a must-see, and honestly, it really is. I literally can’t put into words how beautifully decorated this tree is and the amount of work that goes into the assembly and organization of it all. A picture really speaks a thousand words in this case and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the whole atmosphere of you happen to be in New York around this time. Just be aware, while the pictures are all lovely and serene looking, don’t be fooled into thinking there’s aren’t massive crowds of people lining up to get the same picture behind the scenes. Nonetheless the view and all around atmosphere is absolutely electric.
So there you have it, just a handful of some of the amazing sites NY has to offer, but simultaneously that are no stranger to a lot of hustle and bustle from the crowds that they attract. Please don’t let the long lines or crowds discourage you because the experiences and INSTA MOMENTS (lol) you gain from these are unmatched by any other city. In my next post I feel like I want to focus more on some slightly more intimate and perhaps less obviously “touristy” spots in the city because being crowded by a lot of people all the time just isn’t for everyone and if any place has something for everyone, it’s New York City.
Until then <3
Michelle xx
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