Loving CityLife: A New York Trip

Had a great trip going back to New York City last summer.

I first visited the city back in December to celebrate my friend's birthday and get my first tattoo, a shout out to @tattoo.gu on Instagram. It was definitely a world-winding experience since we only had three days to truly explore and get the most out of the trip.

This time around, I decided to rally another group of friends for another adventure and a longer stay. I also got more of my tattoo sleeve done by the same tattoo artist.

When first arriving, I felt like the group's tour guide since my first trip, and this was a whole new friend group that was coming along; I wanted everyone to have a good experience as it had only been a couple of months since I had traveled here.

We booked a place in Brooklyn through Airbnb because we had more friends this time than a hotel in NYC. However, I recommend sticking to places in Manhattan, as Uber and driving are pretty expensive if you plan on exploring more of the city daily. We paid Uber the equivalent of the extra charges to stay in Manhattan.

One of the things we did this time was get a CityPass (citypass.com). It's a simple pass where you pay a certain fee and can choose from 3 to 5 attractions based on the tier picked at checkout. It is a quick and easy way to find things to do in the city if you aren't sure what to do besides eating your body weight in food. It's supposed to be a more effortless and cheaper way to book touristy New York attractions in one place; I highly recommend it. You can also get a city pass for many other areas, like Chicago and San Francisco.

I loved that we stayed a week in NYC so I could explore the city a bit more and eat lots of yummy food. If I could live in NY and do food reviews, I would be in heaven and probably way above my weight, but I guess I could say the same for Chicago, as I'm always in the city.

Here are a few touristy things that everyone should experience at least once on their trip to New York and things that are offered through the CityPass I spoke about earlier:

Tour of the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

(Reservation Required)

When booking a tour, ensure you know where to find your boat, depending on where you spend your time. Just follow the signs or ask for directions. People around that area are super friendly, and staff are often around to guide you to the correct lines. I took a boat trip to both islands. The weather wasn't that great, but we enjoyed the experience nonetheless. There's a museum all about Lady Liberty, which I found super interesting. Some boats rotate throughout the day to take you between islands, so depending on what package you get, you can go to both and take a boat back to the mainland. We spent time with Lady Liberty and then headed on a quick boat ride to Ellis Island. You can explore the island, and the museum is jam-packed. We ate a snack at the cafe and took the last boat home. Be mindful of boat times because you don't want to miss the last boat off the island.

The Empire State Building

(Reservation Required)

I've been to the Empire State Building during the day and at night. Both times, the city view was just as beautiful. However, the weather wasn't as great during our day trip, so I can't tell which times were busier than others. Getting into the building can seem a little off-putting; there is an entrance on the side of the building where the Starbucks is. You wait in line with your ticket and group, and the workers will let you head inside once it's your scheduled time. They do bag checks and a metal. Detector for security reasons, and they will scan your ticket inside. You get the option for them to take a cute tourist photo that you can purchase at the end of your experience.

Once inside the building, you take a long, windy walk to the elevators, where you go through a maze of memorabilia and videos about the Empire State Building. You can spend a good while just enjoying your time before heading down; you can even get a Starbucks once you've left, as there is an entrance to the local Starbucks in the building.

The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

(Reservation Required)

The SUMMIT One is great for photo ops. I recommend it if you want to see fascinating artwork. It has many floors, each dedicated and innovative to a particular attraction. It's located in a building that seems a bit hidden; if you put it into your GPS, it might appear weird, but you know you're heading in the right direction. Once inside the building, make sure you take the stairs, not the escalator, as you will head down a floor from where the entrance for The SUMMIT is if you do. I suggest arriving at your scheduled times, as it can get busy. Workers will guide you once you find the entrance, and again, you will go through security and ticket checks. There will be a quick video on The SUMMIT, and you will given shoe covers once back in line. They do a quick photo for your entrance, and then you're on your way to the elevators. You can interact with a few displays and get some terrific picture opportunities. There is a cute little shop and cafe where you can enjoy something sweet while looking out into the skyline.

The Met Museum

(Ticket Purchase Required)

I could spend all day in the MET; there is so much to see and what feels like no time. You can sit back and enjoy the art in multiple places in peace. On both occasions, I spent my time in different wings of the museum. You can purchase a ticket online at metmuseum.org

The MoMa Museum

(Ticket Purchase Required)

Innovate and fantastic art is displayed, and it's a must if you're visiting the city! Lines can be a bit long, so be mindful of when you go and bring an umbrella if you see that it will rain. It's an easy place to spot, unlike The Summit One Museum. The MoMa Museum has quite a few floors, and it can take a while to get through each one, depending on your art style. If you somehow spend your day at the museum, a cafe and coffee options are on one of the floors. You can dine inside and eat pretty yummy food. (you can use the citypass app or buy tickets online at moma.org)

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Overall, I say plan plan plan, especially if you have reservations about different events or attractions that could be on opposite sides of the city. Ensure everyone is on the same page about what you want to do, see and eat. Remember about drive time, walking time, and being able to squeeze in time to eat and enjoy your overall stay without feeling like you're running around. Bring a tote with an extra pair of shoes or a change of clothing, as you never know where the night might take you, and so you don't hate yourself in the morning because your feet are killing you.

Also, check when things open and close throughout the day; there might be times when these places are not open because of holidays or other circumstances. Your best bet is to check their official websites.

If you need more insight on planning a group trip, check out my Hawaii blog post. I give much more detailed tips on traveling with a friend group that I've learned this far in traveling.

I hope this little insert helps a few of you try new things in the city, even if they are essential tourist spots. If you have more questions and need more details on each place and what more to expect, leave a comment!

Love,

Diana