New York, New York

A visit to the Big Apple has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and our trip back in August was unforgettable for a number of reasons. Not only did I finally get to see all the famous New York landmarks in person, but I also got the chance to see my favourite band Coldplay live in concert. It really was special.

Getting There:
We saved some dollar by taking the bus to New York, rather then flying which worked out far more expensive. Our budget-conscious decision may have been easy on our pockets but it was not a smooth journey by any means. Unfortunately we faced countless problems with Greyhound the minute we boarded our bus in Toronto and it's safe to say that I will not be using their services again. A stressful 17 hour bus journey, however, did not dampen our spirits and we left our overtired and hangry selves behind as soon as we stepped out of the bus station on 8th Avenue.

View of  the Statue of Liberty from Staten Island Ferry 

Where We Stayed:
Finding decent, budget-friendly and central accommodation in New York can be tough. We stayed in an Airbnb on Staten Island which was a little far out but the low price made it worthwhile. Getting to Times Square from our apartment involved a shuttle bus, ferry and subway ride but we spent the best part of our day out exploring, so the journey didn't phase us too much. Besides, the free commuter ferry provided us with a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline, so we couldn't complain! I would advise anyone who is on more of a time constraint to stay in Brooklyn or Queens to cut down on travel time.



What We Did:
We saw as much as we could during our five day trip. A big highlight for me was going up the Top of the Rock just in time for sunset. Instead of getting the night and day ticket, we went up while it was still bright in the evening and watched day turn into night. The views of New York City were truly magical. We also swung by Times Square which was overwhelming and extremely busy but still incredible to see. We sat on the red steps for a while to take it all in before our heads melted from the bright lights and chaos around us.

 

                              


One of my favourite moments was cycling through Central Park. It was incredible to see the stark contrast between the serene nature and the hustle and bustle surrounding it. We had our bikes for three hours which was long enough to loop around the outskirts of the park while stopping to see the various sights in between. I loved the Alice in Wonderland statue and Bow Bridge. After grabbing some pizza and returning our bikes we walked down Fifth Avenue and chilled by the steps of the Met possibly waiting for Blair and Serena...

I surprised Luke with Yankees tickets for his birthday so we went to the legendary stadium in the Bronx to see them play. All was well until we got caught in a huge thunderstorm halfway into the game! Apart from the abrupt ending, it was great to see them play and the atmosphere was much better than any baseball game I've been to in Toronto.. sorry Blue Jays.

Are we touristy enough?

A trip to New York is never complete without crossing over to Brooklyn to see the iconic Manhattan skyline. We were stuck for time and had to get the subway so unfortunately we didn't get to cross the bridge. But we spent some time exploring Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO and absolutely fell in love. And of course, we sampled some Brooklyn-style pizza while we were there.

Brooklyn Bridge Park at night. Not bad.

Of course the most memorable moment of the trip was finally getting to see Coldplay live in the MetLife Stadium. We had nosebleed seats but could still see everything perfectly. It was without doubt the best experience ever. Life goal complete.

I didn't want to leave... 

Where We Ate (And Drank):
We were so busy taking in all the sights that it was hard to find the time to sit down and eat. But we managed. My favourite meal by far was Luke's birthday dinner in Gallow Green. The food was good but the lush surroundings were what made this evening so special. It is a rooftop bar in Chelsea that sits atop the hotel that homes the production Sleep No More. The garden rooftop is decorated with trellises and fairy lights and their cocktails were pretty good too.

 


If you're looking for good pizza in Brooklyn, Sottocasa is a great option. It's simple, cosy and intimate inside and the pizza is seriously good. Would highly recommend the one with spicy sausage!

We also stumbled across a really great juice place as we strolled through Soho called Joe & the Juice. The decor is so pretty and their juices and smoothies were amazing. Maybe someday they will expand to Toronto....

While we had an incredible five day trip, I definitely have unfinished business with New York City and am already looking forward to exploring it again.