New York City

It’s no secret we love New York City! I visited for the first time when I was 10 years old. I had the trip of a lifetime with a dear family friend, my sisters, mom and granny. We saw Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King on Broadway, were picked up from the airport in a limo complete with McDonalds and had so much fun playing dress up at FAO Schwartz. Anthony’s first trip was in 2019 when we went to NYC and then on to NJ for a wedding. We spent a whole week staying in Brooklyn in an AirBnB and just absolutely did the most we could possibly do during our trip. We went to museums, parks, ate pizza and cookies and genuinely just had so much fun being tourists.

Here are a few of our favorite places and things to eat in the Big Apple!

Top Tourist Sites

Top of the Rock– the best advice I received was to go to the Top of the Rock instead of the top of the Empire State Building (ESB). This way, the ESB is in your pictures!! I am so thankful for my friend Natalie giving me this tip because I LOVE the pictures we have of that beautiful building and we literally have one hanging very largely in our bedroom. HOT TIP- visit early in the morning to have the deck to yourself, but come back at night to see the city light up! I LOVE the pictures I got that night, but the crowd did cause me to be very claustrophobic so we found a little window seat to enjoy the lights away from all the people.

9/11 Memorial and Museum– we actually spent 5 hours here when we went (pre-Titus of course). We really took our time and read and listened to everything. Anthony and I were in 8th and 7th grade, respectively, when 9/11 happened and it’s not something we will ever forget. The museum is so well done and we highly recommend it if you’re prepared to cry for a couple hours (if you’re like me, anyway). The website says it should take you 45-90 minutes to visit soooo maybe we’re crazy haha. HOT TIP- be sure to reserve your tickets and timed entry in advance.

American Museum of Natural History– this is a fun place with kids or without! You HAVE to go if you are a fan of the movie- Night at the Museum! This museum is gigantic, so it’s best to have a plan for what you want to see and kinda know where you’re going! We got to take Titus here this past summer and he loved seeing all the animals and especially the dinosaur bones! HOT TIP- you can enter the museum for free the last hour of the day. Normally, I wouldn’t probably recommend this, but it worked perfectly for us on our last trip! We had flown in that morning and were out for an afternoon stroll to pick up cookies from Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods on the UWS and decided it would be perfect to let Titus see the dinosaurs for a bit! We would’ve loved a smidge more time, but fun, free indoor activities are always a great idea on a hot afternoon. For stroller entrance- 81st Street/Rose Center for Earth and Space.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art– Monet, Jackson Pollock, Pissarro, Cezanne, a few artists I love and that you get to see at the Met. This museum is huge, so be prepared and know what specific rooms you’re wanting to see!

Broadway Shows– we always try to hit a show if our budget allows! The TKTS booth is fun if you’re feeling spontaneous and don’t have a strong opinion about what you see. Our first trip together we bought tickets for Frozen very last minute at the TKTS booth and WE LOVED IT! We laughed, we cried, it was MAGICAL. It was Anthony’s first Broadway show and it was so special. We are big Frozen fans, so this was an easy win for us. We also then splurged and bought tickets to see The Lion King. I just felt like Anthony HAD to see it. I saw The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway when I visited NYC for the first time when I was 10 years old and I wanted him to have the same experience. We have seen Aladdin and Back the the Future as well! Also, the only reason we go to Times Square is to go to a show, otherwise we avoid it like the plague. Go. See it. Leave. That’s what we do! It’s so incredibly crowded all day long and I do not like that.

Sights to See

Central Park- There is nothing we love more than taking a stroll through Central Park. We have lots of favorite routes and I will include a few shots below but we genuinely just love to stroll no matter where you enter you exit. Our most frequented entrance is on the UWS near the AMNH since we most likely just had a bagel from Zucker’s for breakfast.

Brooklyn Bridge- walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is a must! Once we did this the first time, we have done it every time since! Our 4 yr old loves it and so do we! When you come off in Brooklyn, it’s now the perfect time to walk to DUMBO!

DUMBO- “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” This is where you see those iconic shots. When the sky is clear you have a perfect view of the Empire State Building under the bridge- how cool is that?! We love coming here and there is a Time Out Market close by which is a great place for coffee, a bagel and using the restroom after your long walk. Finding a bathroom in NYC is a feat in itself. You can also walk around the park in this area and see Jane’s Carousel- we’ve yet to ride it because we are always here in the morning before it’s open.

Grand Central Terminal- You must visit Grand Central Station and go inside to see how beautiful it is and all of the train terminals. HOT TIP– enter from the street from the main entrance at 42nd and Park Ave. We made the mistake of entering from a side door or somewhere underground the very first time we went and let me just tell you- I was hot and claustrophobic because I had no idea where we were or how we would get out. We were obviously underground and it was just the worlds longest tunnel to walk in and I hated it with every fiber of my being haha. Take my advice!!

Neighborhoods/Parks We Love

Flatiron District- On our first visit to NYC at Christmas, we stayed in the Flatiron District and fell in love. Since then, we have enjoyed visiting these area time and time again. They have a great enclosed playground at Madison Square Park. My favorite moment from our last trip was sitting in this park while jazz music was being played. So many people were enjoying picnics in the green space and it’s so fun to just see how people spend their time after work and visit with family and friends. A magical moment if you ask me. This area is also home to the Harry Potter store, which is fun to browse around.

Bryant Park- We also love this area. The Winter Market at Christmas is our favorite. During the summer there is live music which is also fun. Titus loves the carousel here and there is also a little play area for kids, games to check out and books as well. Such a nice, well kept park with lots of fun treats around. Be sure to visit the New York Public Library and it’s also a great time to walk on down to Grand Central Station as well.

Soho- Home to Dominique Ansel Bakery. I also just love the streets here and strolling around.

The High Line- we finally checked this off our list on our most recent visit! Titus loved the old railway tracks along the High Line! We thoroughly enjoyed our walk and also stopped in at Chelsea Market to use the restroom and get a treat! Lots to see here!

Must Eats Around New York City

Levain Bakery- When we first had this cookie in 2021 in literally changed our life in regards to cookies. I have been on a mission ever since to make them myself and honestly it’s hard to find a cookie I love because nothing is as good. (Tiny’s in Austin is a great cookie and not the same style, but definitely the other cookie we love!) I eat one every day if I can when we are there. No shame in my cookie game.

Pizza- Joe’s is our personal favorite, but in all honesty, we eat whatever pizza we see when we are in New York City. Pizza by the slice can’t be beat. It’s one of the cheapest things you can eat while you’re there, which is always a win. And we just love pizza. Soooo eat pizza every chance you get. We have also had Prince St Pizza, Famous Original Ray’s, Highline Pizzeria, lots of random places and Una Pizza Napoletana (world famous pizza, but not NY style).

Cronut- The original Cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery. They change flavors every month and I always preorder so we don’t have to stand in line. HOT TIP- when you preorder you get to skip the line and they let you order other things in the bakery while you’re picking it up. I would hate to not get one, so I always preorder. Maybe it’s not necessary, but I am not there daily so I don’t want to take the risk. I also don’t enjoy standing in long lines unless I am at Disney World. I have yet to have a flavor I didn’t love, so don’t hesitate to try it. It was rice pudding filled one time and it was amazing. I would never eat rice pudding otherwise lol.

Bagels- We love Zucker’s the most and always go when we’re there! I get The Traditional- yes for breakfast- and eat every bite. Anthony usually gets a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Funny story- the first time we went Anthony had no idea what to order and you know how things are hustled when you have waited in line forever and get up there to order. He ordered an everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese and we laugh about it all the time. We have also had Ess-A-Bagel but Zucker’s is our go to. We take the subway to the one on the UWS and then walk through Central Park. There is also one right by Bryant Park and one near Grand Central Station, which are both convenient to hotels we have stayed at in the past. I am sure there are plenty of other great bagels, but we like to hit our favorite spot when we’re there!

Other Food We’ve Loved

Lillo Cucina Italiana in Brooklyn- authentic Italian food in a tiny cash only restaurant that was delicious.

Chinatown- Noodle Village is where we have just so happened to eat twice! Total coincidence.

Thai Food- Nana Thai Street- absolutely delicious Khai Soi

Una Pizza Napoletana- this place is world famous and we never do foodie things but our love for pizza runs deep and I have quite the story about getting reservations for this place!

Katz Deli- freaking delicious. I still think about it. HOT TIP- order ahead and skip a massive line.

Raclette- I honestly don’t know if you can always get this in NYC, but it was set up during the Christmas market in Bryant Park and WORTH THE WAIT!!! If you love cheese and bread, this is for you.

Culture Espresso- More normal chocolate chip cookie to me- kinda like Tiny’s in Austin. But delicious! This was Titus first ever bite of a chocolate chip cookie. A very special moment for us 🙂

All 4 Seasons in NYC

I have been to NYC in all 4 seasons now and it is truly magical at all times of the year. Christmas truly is as special as you think it’s going to be, if you ask me. I have a whole post to write about that.

Fall – A trip with my Mom and Titus in November 2023.

Spring- May 2024 might have been one of our favorite trips to date. We truly enjoyed our days like we lived there and really felt like we were on vacation. That is not our norm. We are typically go go go.

Winter- January 2023 was a super special trip with Anthony, Titus, my sister Rebekah and my Brother Micah and his wife Amy. They wanted to model for me for some wedding/engagement styled shoots and I forever indebted to them for making my dream come true!!

Summer- My “going to Chuck and Blair’s wedding” moment in July 2019. We did allll the Gossip Girl things on that trip. My love runs deep. Summer is hot, don’t be deceived.

I leave you with a final few photos I love.

In case you are, don’t be scared of the subway. We love it. It is an excellent way to get around the city. So much better than driving and I think this is the exact reason I love New York City so much. I love that you can walk or hop on the subway to get just about anywhere. Love Love Love.

New York City at Christmas

Must see- the Rockettes. I didn’t include Christmas in this post very much because it needs it’s own post! But I can’t wait to go see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular again someday!

The Statue of Liberty is definitely worth a visit at least once in your life.

I hope you LOVED this post and if you visit NYC anytime soon I hope you fall in love with it as much as I have. However, I hope you don’t also become obsessed and think about literally hopping on a plane to go there every single day like I do haha.

If you are going and want to schedule a photo shoot with me while you are there, reach out and see if I am available! I am ALWAYS up for a trip to NYC and offer a super great tour around and take pictures along the way! We can plan the locations and snack spots according to your preferences and I promise it will be SO MUCH FUN!

We went in January of 2023 for me to do some styled wedding/engagement shoots and I dream of going to do that again all the time. I just need a couple who wants to go with me- so if that’s you, let me know!