NYC The City That Never Sleeps

NYC: Quick and Easy Things to Do

NYC can be such a magical place, whether you are there for a week or just passing through (as I was after leaving Bermuda). No matter where you go there is always this undisclosed pressure of trying to fit everything into one day. I don’t know about you guys but I always find myself panicking becoming engulfed in all the things that I wish to do, not settling down, and being appreciative of the atmosphere itself. I know many other people like that and it sort of inspired this article. I wanted to tell you the quick and simple things that we did in New York while spending an approximate amount of three hours there.

We were lucky to have people drive us there and they dropped us off directly in the heart of Time Square. It’s no secret that I am a actress and there’s something so magical about being immersed in ads, theatrical productions, and people all around the world. if you want something free to do and very touristy then I suggest going to time square. Now, my warning to you do NOT take pictures with the people in costumes there. Sure, they may seem overly friendly, maybe even dressed like your favorite superhero (I wanted to desperately take a picture with Spider-Man) however everything there comes at a cost. I went to NYC a couple years ago and learned that the hard way. I was quite confused that I had to pay the person dressed as Spongebob after taking a notorious selfie with him.

You will also be approached, at least twenty times, by someone offering to tour you around the city,promising to show you all the good spots of NYC. Now, if that is something you are into, seeing the city through tour, perhaps this is something for you. My parents were approached the minute they stepped out of the car and the tour bus was more their speed.I am not bashing it by any means, everyone travels differently, and if that’s your thing go for it. However, I am more of a up close and personal type of person. I want to actually be on foot, set my own pace, and make sure I miss nothing.

After experiencing time square my friends and I walked to Grand Central station partly because I see it so much on film and on TV that I wanted to witness it myself. I think one of the reasons that I like NYC so much is because we see it so much on small rectangular screens, it’s something surreal to witness its beauty in person.

Now, if we had a bit more time I would’ve loved to see the Statue of Liberty. However, because we had a couple of hours, and this post is dedicated to touring NYC quickly, we won’t get into that.

Now, if you’re looking to eat in NYC and are trying to stay under budget doing street vendors is the best choice. My friends ended up getting a quick hotdog and it was only 3.00! I am not a huge hot dog person but even I have to admit that the hot dog I tried was pretty darn good. However, after awhile combined with copious amounts of walking, hot dogs didn’t seem to cut it. We ended up stopping at a cute little hole in the wall Chinese place called Szechuan Gourmet which is located in Midtown West. I truly loved this place because it has so many authentic dishes to choose from. Don’t get me wrong I can always go for a sweet and sour chicken, but if you’re looking for that and more this place is perfect for you. The restaurant offers different traditional Szechuan dishes, that are flavorful, juicy and crispy, making your mouth water as soon as it hits your taste buds.

One of the other things I enjoyed was all the vendors you could witness as you walk down the streets of NYC. There were so many places that you could buy small trinkets of jewelry, like bracelets and rings, along with articles of clothing. I have an obsession with buying hoodies every place I visit, it’s crazy, I know, but I ended up finding this super cute lilac colored hoodie for under 30.00! Of course my haggling skills came into play but I ended up using my street charm to get it for about 25.00. Speaking of clothing, I decided on comfort because I knew I would be doing a lot of walking. This beautiful colorful striped dress is from Forever 21! Not only did I feel like a 20’s movie star in this long flowing dress but it was nice for the extremely hot weather as well.

As your hours slowly tick by and you find yourself having to leave, a great way to get by is the subway. I loved it because it’s easy to navigate and reminds me a lot of Chicago’s subway system. Not only is in inexpensive but its pretty prominent throughout the city taking you to all the places that you need to go.

Overall, NYC is such a beautiful place to visit filled with so much culture, history, and amazing architecture. I recommend anyone taking the time to visit for at least a couple days. However, if you do find yourself having some time to kill, either between flights, or just between hotels, I hope this post will be beneficial to you. Remember, breathe and take the time to relish that you are in a beautiful new place, sometimes, that is enough!

Until next time!
xoxoxx
​Rachel