I spent my 4th of July holiday exploring my favorite city. After visiting a few times, I can honestly say there are endless things to do and visit. From lower Manhattan to the Upper East Side…and Queens to Brooklyn, each borough is full of culture, creativity and flows with hustle and bustle. They call it the city that never sleeps for a reason. Waking up at the crack of dawn to visit The Highline or staying out late existing your broadway show to see the flashing lights in Times Square, New York is full of adventure. Here are some of the things I did and places I visited while on my trip…and a few tips I have from past and present visits.
Shopping in SOHO
Nomo Hotel & Restaurant | SOHO
SOHO, short for South of Houston Street, is my favorite neighborhood. There are endless shops, from higher end name brands to low-key boutiques and even cool vintage shops. My favorite was seeing the revamped Gucci Store on Wooster St and visiting the Glossier Pop-up store on Lafayette St. Aside from visiting these stores, there are name brands like Topshop, Zara, H&M, Nike, etc. However, I love visiting the second hand stores like The Vintage Twin on Broadway. When not shopping, there are endless cafes and restaurants to stop at along the way. The aesthetic in SOHO makes walking aimlessly for hours so much fun, while admiring the cast-iron buildings, cute little cafes, and feeling like a true New Yorker.
WHAT I’M WEARING
Shorts (similar)
Central Park & The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir | Central Park
Whether this is your first or fifth time visiting New York, Central Park is always the site to see to escape the city traffic. This 2.5 mile long park is filled activities and even has an iceskating rink for the colder seasons and a zoo for the warmer ones. There are artists and musicians on every corner, hidden ponds, and each time you turn down a path, you discover something new. This time, we rode bicycles from our hotel in midtown through the park and all the way to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (of simply, The Met) which is located on the outskirt of Central Park. Here, we toured The Met which can take all day…so we decided to take a look through the infamous Met Gala put on every year (pictured above). Usually people recommend visiting the rooftop of The Met, however it was too hot out the day we visited. Pro tip for you students out there is to bring your student ID to receive a discount off the entrance fee. After visiting these two iconic locations, take a stroll through The Upper East side and feel as chic as the gossip girl cast!
WHAT I’M WEARING
Flatiron District
Flatiron Building | Flatiron District
This was the first time I traveled to the Flatiron District, but it definitely won’t be my last! Unfortunately we stopped here on our last day, so I only got to see The Empire State Building briefly and The Flatiron Building for a quick picture. The main reason we came here was to eat at Eataly (totally recommend!), which was filled with Italian cuisine restaurants and even one on the rooftop. If you have the chance, visit this historical location with its towering skyscrapers and Madison Square Park.
WHAT I’M WEARING
Broadway & Times Square
Chicago | Broadway | Midtown
Times Square is one of those places you need to visit while in New York because nothing really embodies the city that never sleeps than these beaming lights and the unique diversity this city has to offer. I personally don’t recommend spending time shopping in these enormous stores since you can find them almost anywhere, but rather spend time in somewhere like SOHO. Times Square is perfect for taking a walk at night like we did after seeing Chicago on Broadway. It’s fun to feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself and feel the adrenaline rush from the big crowds and towering buildings. Broadway shows are also a must (I would recommend seeing Wicked, my all time favorite).
I love visiting New York because of its high-energy, culture, history, and all the adventures that await. It’s true that you’ll never be bored on what seems to be its own world but what is actually a small island. A few things we did that I didn’t think to picture (still adjusting to that blogger life!) that I would recommend are:
-Visiting the 9/11 Memorial and the top of the One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan
-Explore outside of Manhattan in areas like Brooklyn and Queens (especially Astoria with its delicious Greek cuisine)
-See The Statue of Liberty
-Take a stroll through Rockefeller Center
-Try a slice of New York Pizza
If you have any recommendations for the next time I visit NYC, please leave it in the comments below!
Xx,
Evana Maria
