It’s unbelievable how many photos I took in NYC and while I promise not to bombard you with every single one, I thought it might be nice to divide the trip up into a few smaller, more manageable chunks. Today, we begin with the must-see spots. The BIG THINGS everyone has to do once when they come to New York City {or at least, the few we were able to cram in during our visit – this is not a comprehensive list!}
Empire State Building
It doesn’t get any better than being 102 stories in the sky taking in a breathtaking view of Manhattan. Thanks to some VIP passes from Josh’s uncle, who works in the building, we were able to bypass the FIVE separate lines it takes to actually get to the top and soak in the scenery from the 86th and 102nd floors. Pictures don’t do it justice! The only slight bummer was the smog, thanks to the summer heat, which prevented us from seeing the maximum 80 miles. No complaining here though!
Times Square
Times Square is good to visit once in your life. Beyond that, I don’t quite see the appeal. It felt so claustrophobic and terrifying in many spots, like I was in the center of a moving target, about to get taken out at any moment. It conflicts me. The picture of “Lady Liberty” above perfectly sums it up….so many hard working people just trying to make a living so we can all enjoy the lights and glitz.
Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and World Trade Center
A boat cruise around the bay was the perfect way to maximize our touring time and take in stunning views of the city. The Brooklyn bridge is magical, and so is the Statue of Liberty….it was so weird to just be there in REAL LIFE looking at it! While we didn’t get to go on the 9-11 Memorial tour, we did see the World Trade Center site from the boat and our awesome tour guide gave us the scoop on the new structures.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
One of the most well known Roman Catholic churches in the United States, St. Patrick’s is a throw back to being in Europe. It made me happy to walk though some history, and be face to face with exquisite stained glass and the most beautiful pipe organ in the entire world. A welcome rest from the buzz of 5th avenue!
New York Public Library
Can you imagine if this was your “neighborhood library”?! I’d never stop studying!
Central Park
Central Park for me, was one of the best things about vising NYC. Belvedere Castle, Great Lawn, The Lake, The Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields {in honor of John Lennon} and the adjoining Dakota, a beautiful apartment building where John was shot and where Yoko still lives. There were so many breathtaking views taken right out of the movies, it’s iconic everywhere you turn! Even though the park is vast {843 acres}, it was hard to feel like you were ever in solitude or truly in the wilderness. Perhaps this solidified that once and for all, I am truly a country girl?
Wandering
Honestly, some of the best ways to experience New York City is to just wander. Walk the streets, turn corners, and see what you can find. The one conclusion I’ve come to, after spending 5 days almost exclusively in midtown, is that next time {if there is a next time}, I want to get off the beaten path, explore other neighborhoods A LOT more {Greenwich Village, SoHo, Brooklyn…..I missed you!} and really experience travel on the outskirts of the tourist hub. It was amazing, and definitely worth seeing, but I think it’s only the tip of the iceberg to what New York truly has to offer.
Join me next time when I share my adventures into two VERY important things: FOOD and ART.
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