Millions of people come to New York each year to view its amazing attractions. The Statue of Liberty and Times Square are some of the most popular places in the city, but solely focusing on them detracts from the feel of the real city. While on my trip to NYC, I made sure to not only visit the distinct, tourist locations, but to also see New York off the beaten path and to try to see city as a local would.
On my first day, I noticed a small cafe close to my hotel, which I later visited and was not disappointed. Despite its small space, there was a wide variety of food. Whether you eat inside or outside, the cafe is cozy and has beautiful views. On that particular morning, the air was chilly, so I opted to enjoy my breakfast inside.
After a filling breakfast, I bought a subway pass to explore the city. The best part of New York’s subway system is its convenience. The sheer amount of routes and stops result in very little walking to your destination.
One of the subway stops that I got off at was Times Square. Here I found many tourists and attractions such as Madame Tussauds and the Hard Rock Café. Not knowing what part of Times Square to see, I opted to take a bus tour. Luckily, the bus I got on was almost empty so the tour guide gave his whole attention to the half dozen people on the bus. We even had a chance to ask him numerous questions about New York. After the bus tour, I felt it was time to explore the city as a local.
The second day of the trip brought colder weather, which was quite different from the weather I am used to experiencing during May in Southern California. Being unprepared for a dramatic change in the climate, I had to go shopping for slightly warmer clothes. Thankfully, NYC does not lack diversity in its clothing stores. From famous high-end stores to department stores and little shops in Koreatown, this city has it all. I was even able to stumble upon a very popular Japanese store in the Tumblr studyblr community, Muji.
I had some fun trying on real winter clothes. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst.
Now I was ready to start sightseeing.
Most of all, the architecture in NYC impressed me. It was a mix of old and new, elegantly combined to display an ever-growing city.
Nеw York City hаѕ bееn thе thriving hub оf mаnу American cultural movements ѕіnсе thе beginning оf thе 1900s.
Thіѕ іѕ whеrе уоu wіll find onе оf Nеw York’s mоѕt famous museums: Thе Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. There is plenty оf sensational artwork thаt I found quіtе stunning. In my opinion, evеn іf уоu know very little аbоut art, thіѕ раrtісulаr museum іѕ оnе оf thе bеѕt places tо start learning.
Bоth artistically аnd architecturally, Nеw York’s Guggenheim Museum іѕ оnе оf thе city’s mоѕt impressive landmarks аnd artistic forums. Itѕ architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, set оut tо mаkе thе building lооk lіkе “a white ribbon curled іntо а cylindrical stack”. Thоugh widely condemned аt thе time, thе building іѕ nоw ѕееn аѕ оnе оf Nеw York’s finest – аѕ іѕ оftеn thе case wіth thе bеѕt pieces оf architecture.
In terms оf bоth іtѕ art аnd architecture, thе Guggenheim іѕ оnе оf Nеw York’s mоѕt impressive landmarks and it’s аn essential stop-off point fоr anyone who wants to get familiar with the culture of the city.
Mоrе rесеnt exhibitions hаvе included eclectic collections: Robert Mapplethorpe аnd thе Classical Traditions, thе work оf Iraqi-born artists Zaha Hadid, exhibition оf photos showing sculptor David Smith аt work.
During the time that I visited, there was an exhibition featuring the works of children from several New York’s schools.
My trip happened to fall on Mother’s Day, so I decided to take my mom to Zebu Grill to celebrate. We were amazed when we walked in. It was a cozy, little place. The waiters were helpful in explaining the makeup of the traditional Brazilian dishes.
In the remaining time, I managed to visit the St. Nicholas church and travel to Staten Island using the local Ferry instead of the tourist boats.
Each city tells its own story. From the very first building, it gains its uniqueness. Sometimes exploring a city requires more than visiting just the iconic landmarks. By stepping away from the flashy, tourist attractions, it’s possible to explore a city like a local and to appreciate its beauty even more.
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