Anxiety Aside – Let’s Go To NYC

New York City is by far one of my favorite places in the entire world. Growing up, I always dreamed about going there and knew in my heart that I would love it, from the moment I stepped off the plane. I visited NYC for the first time in 2018 and again in 2019; both times were magical. There is something so exciting about the hustle and bustle that makes you want to accomplish all your life goals. I daydream of being in Manhattan every day of my life and I can’t wait to go back. I wanted to dedicate this blog post to showing you some of my favorite places I went to in New York and reminisce about my time in the city!

The first place I want to talk about is Bryant Park. Bryant Park is a place that I went to countless times during both my trips and I absolutely love it! Since it was so close to my hotel, I found myself there almost every single day. Although the park isn’t very big, it holds so much character in such a small space. surrounded by the tallest buildings and with the Empire State Building in perfect view, it is what city dreams are made of. One of my favorite things about it is the reading nook they have set up in the park. Anybody can go and pick up a book to read and I find that so charming. There are plenty of tables and chairs set up as well, so bringing some food and enjoying the scenery is a must! If you are ever planning a trip to NYC and haven’t yet been to Bryant Park, I seriously recommend you stop by!

The second place I want to talk about is Bar 54 located at the Hyatt Centric Hotel in Times Square. While visiting New York for the second time, my sister and I decided to check out several rooftop bars and this one was definitely our favorite. The view of the city was breathtaking and the overall atmosphere was very low-key. We ended up going back a second time because we loved it so much and would highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the city. The drinks were a little on the pricey side, but that is to be expected because you’re essentially paying for the view. I will definitely be going back next time I visit.

Seeing Broadway shows in NYC is one of my all time favorite things to do. I have had the pleasure of seeing 5 different shows on Broadway and they have all exceeded my expectations. My favorite show i’ve seen is Dear Evan Hansen which is why the Music Box Theatre is third on the list. I was blown away with the entirety of the show and listen to the soundtrack pretty much everyday. I am in love with musical theater and hope to see DEH again!

The 4th place I am going to spotlight is the Iroquois Hotel in Manhattan. I stayed in the Iroquois both of my trips and had a wonderful experience each time. The staff went above and beyond to make sure our stay was what we hoped for and it definitely did not go unnoticed. The rooms are very nice and location wise, it’s exactly where you’d want to be if you’re trying to be in the center of all the hustle and bustle. Being only 0.2 miles from Times Square, was so amazing and I couldn’t have been more pleased with it all.

Last but certainly not least, I want to mention going to the top of the Empire State Building. It is a very popular tourist attraction and chances are if you are planning your first trip to NYC, it is already on your to do list. I wanted to talk about it still, just for the fact that I want to highlight the idea of going up at night. Seeing the city from up high is so amazing during the day, but there is something even more magical about seeing it when it’s dark. The city lights shining were so breathtaking and there was something so serene about the whole experience. My sister and I bought tickets to go up very last minute and didn’t put much thought into it all. Since we had gone to the Top of the Rock during the day on our previous trip, we decided to try something different. It was fairly late at night and we had just gotten out of one of our Broadway shows, so we said “what the heck!” and made our way to the iconic Empire State Building. Being up that high can sometimes make you feel like you’re about to fly off the side of the building, but it’s so worth it. The views of the city (especially at night) are spectacular and I am so happy we chose to do it. Another plus is that it wasn’t busy at all so we didn’t have to wait in long lines, which is a huge win in my book. It was by far one of my favorite things we did the entire trip and I would definitely say it’s worth the money!

Those are just 5 of the many things I adore about NYC and I am very grateful for the time i’ve gotten to spend in Manhattan. On my first trip I surprised my sister and vlogged the entire thing! If you would like to check out those videos, scroll down and enjoy!