It truly is the city that never sleeps
Earlier this year, I took my first-ever trip to New York City. Prior to the trip, I was quite nervous about how I was going to navigate the Big Apple. Luckily, I was traveling with one of my best friends who had been to New York a couple of times already. In the few days that we were there, we lived our best New York City Girl lives by indulging in food and walking an average of 10 miles a day. So, if you’re reading this and haven’t been to New York yet, take note of these five experiences that I would highly recommend.
1. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge
This experience can be described in one word: iconic. Everyone has heard of the Brooklyn Bridge, but how many people can say they have actually walked across it? Well, I wanted to be one of those people. It is difficult to find the words to describe this experience, because I feel the best advice I can offer is you have to see to believe it. As you venture across, there is nothing like seeing the skyline views of Brooklyn and Manhattan. If you want a perfect spot to capture pictures of your trip, this is the place to be. This was truly an unforgettable experience and something that I would recommend to everyone.
2. Sitting on the steps of the Met
Attention Gossip Girl Fans—this one’s for you. As avid Gossip Girl fans, my friend and I made this a non-negotiable part of our plan. If you’ve seen the show, you know that Serena and Blair sat on the steps of the Met everyday before school. Many dramatic moments happened on these steps. Therefore, my friend and I had to live out our Gossip Girl fantasy by sitting on these steps. In addition to being an iconic pop culture spot, it is also a fantastic place to rest and just take in the city. So, grab a snack and make sure to take a seat on the steps.
3. Cornelia Street & Greenwich Village
If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you know Cornelia Street. My friend is a dedicated Swiftie, so we decided to make the trek to find Cornelia Street, which is located in Greenwich Village. Of course, we had to take a picture in front of Taylor Swift’s old apartment. However, even if you’re not a Taylor Swift fan, this is a great spot. Greenwich Village is a cozy neighborhood filled with cute old-style brick apartments, local shops and yummy restaurants. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of tourist areas like Times Square, this is a great place to just stroll the streets and enjoy some peace and quiet.
4. Walking the High Line
After you pick up your morning coffee and a famous New York bagel from one of the local shops, you must definitely make your way over to the High Line. If you don’t know, this is a public park that was built on an old railroad track. The High Line is about 1.5 miles long and 30 feet above street level. Not only will you be able to get a better look of the city when you walk the High Line, but you will also see creative public art on display. This is truly one of the best ways to see New York City. If you’re looking for a relaxing stroll, the High Line is a necessity.
5. Seeing a Broadway Show
Full disclosure, I would not consider myself a Broadway musical person. However, my friend is, and she has raved about how amazing of an experience it is to see a Broadway show. So, on our final full day, we chose to see Aladdin. It was an absolutely incredible experience. I was amazed by the amount of detail that goes into these shows. The costumes and set design were bursting with vibrant colors. The singing, acting and dancing were nearly flawless. All of these elements made me feel so immersed in the show. It was something that I will truly never forget. You literally cannot go wrong with seeing any Broadway show.
It was difficult to condense this list to only five things because the world is truly at your fingertips when you are in New York City. There are countless activities at your disposal. It can feel overwhelming to narrow down what you want to do on a trip when you have limited time. Hopefully, this list will be a good place for you to start.