There’s No Place Like New York!
New York, New York. During Christmas and Spring break I had the chance to travel to New York and explore the Big Apple. I went in December with my family and loved it so much that I came back in the spring. There’s no place quite like New York City. Here are just a few reasons why I love this city so much, and why you might fall in love with it too.
The Unmatched Skyline
One of the first things that come to mind when you think of New York City is its iconic skyline. I didn’t get to go to the famous Vanderbilt tower, or the Empire state, but still managed to get a breath taking 360 view of the concrete jungle. I went to the Top of the Rock skyscraper where I could see the entire city’s shilouette. Other than buildings, New York is such a sight to see with many of their parks showing views of the bridge and city from afar. Views both from the ground and from their high altitude buildings makes even simple walks around the city never boring.
The Food Scene
New York’s culinary scene is unrivaled. Whether you’re craving a $1 pizza slice or a meal from a Michelin-starred restaurant, NYC caters to every taste and budget. The city’s food culture includes everything from the famous New York bagel to international cuisines that reflect its multicultural makeup. I have many food recommendations up my sleeve.
One food I would recommend if you are ever in New York City is a small stall in Chinatown called Wah Fung. They only sell rotisserie duck, chicken, and barbecue pork only for $5.50 every single day. It was so so good too that I came back a few times. Another cheap staple is Adels Halal food: it was mindblowingly good. The lines do get very long but it is definitely worth it,
If you’re looking for a dinner that’s more on the expensive side, Peter Luger steakhouse is a great steak experience. Or Kazunori, the original handroll bar. They serve 6 handrolls for the price of $35, which I think is such a good deal. One other must-go restaurant is Olio e Piu in the Greenwhich area, as they serve some really good pasta!
Endless Coffee options
I am a big cafe girlie, and when I said I thrived in NYC’s coffee and aesthetic cafe scene, I am being serious. There’s so many to choose from. One of my favorite areas for cafe hopping is definitely the SOHO/ Greenwhich area. East Village and Williamsburg have some really good local places too. One that I found myself going to a lot while I was there is Stumptown Coffee right by the Washington Square Park. That name might sound familiar since they have their grounds sold at retailers like whole foods! Devocion is also a really nice place to go to. There is a ton of natural light from the glass roof, and they serve really good Colombian coffee.
Transportation
Getting around New York was incredibly convenient thanks to its extensive subway system (compared to Seattle’s one line). The Subway system in NYC is fairly easy to understand, and because each line have stops every few blocks, it was so fast to get to different places which makes sense since, the majority of the population does not drive. One thing though, some stations and trains can get… um… smelly… BUT, it’s a small price to pay for the mobility it offers!
There’s more?
I can yap on and on about why I love the city so much, but the simple reason is just that there’s just so much to do! The free art museums, Broadway shows, the endless shops to shop in, and the overall city just feels so alive to me. I love the hustle and bustle of the city and how there seem to just always be a new experience or something to look forward to.
The only thing stopping me from moving to New York is definitely the cost of living; It is way too expensive! And again the unpleasant smells all around, but to be honest it’s not that bad. Am I romantacizing a city that I have yet to live in? Maybe. But hey I loved my time there and I will definitely be coming back.
Have you ever been to New York? If so, what’s your take on it?
