Often referred to as the “Crossroads of the World,” Times Square is one of the most visited pedestrian areas in the world, with over 50 million tourists annually.  It also hosts the iconic New Years Eve celebration, when an estimated 1 million people come to revel in live music and the official ball drop.

Nothing makes you feel smaller than walking amongst New York’s many skyscrapers.

Need an escape from the city?  Then take a stroll through Central Park or, better yet, a row!  With 58 miles of trails and four lakes, it’s a peaceful respite from the surrounding concrete landscape.

The Bow Bridge in Central Park.  Completed in 1862, it’s the largest bridge in the park at 87 feet (and also one of the most romantic!)

The best kind of street performance?  Those involving giant bubbles!  Because deep down, we’re all still enthralled with those rainbow floaters, aren’t we?

The Belvedere Castle in Central Park.  Appropriately named, Belvedere means “beautiful view” or “panoramic view” in Italian.  From its perch on the hill, it certainly has that!

The mini sailboats at Conservatory Water in Central Park are totes adorbes (yes, I just used “totes adorbes” but come on, I think we can both agree that’s a fitting description for these little guys.)

New York has countless street performers. I was fortunate enough to hear this group perform at the Bethesda Terracea and wow! They were simply amazing!

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral rises up amongst the sterile skyscrapers like a flower popping up from a crack in the sidewalk.  This beautiful church has hosted several notable funerals including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Vince Lombardi, Ed Sullivan, Andy Warhol, and Robert F. Kennedy.

New York City taxi drivers serve over 241 million passengers each year.  However, jumping on the subway can be a much faster (and cheaper) option for getting around the city.  If you’re intimidated by trying to figure out how to use them, just as a local!  Despite their reputation, I’ve always found New Yorkers to be extremely kind.

I just love this photo.  It’s so typical of the contrast between buildings as you walk around the city.  Each seems to have its own personality.

The view of New York City from the top of the Empire State Building.  One more thing checked off my bucket list!  I visited on a rather foggy day so the crowds were virtually nonexistent (and it made for some really dramatic photos… bonus!)

Speaking of my bucket list, seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade should be on yours! The floats are absolutely massive in person, and the energy is electric!

Ellis Island welcomed over twelve million immigrants between 1892 and 1954.  As you walk upstairs to the second floor, the white tile ceiling will take your breath away!  Hopefully, it didn’t have the same effect on those wanting to become citizens.  Immigrants who were short of breath when they reached the second floor were thought to be sick and consequently denied entry.  Imagine having to get back on a ship after such an arduous journey here!

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi from Colmar, France was the designer behind the Statue of Liberty.  After her image was perfected, Gustave Eiffel (famously known for constructing the Eiffel Tower) brought her to life.  She was a gift from the French to the American people, and you can find her likeness in several places around France.

“A future so bright, I gotta wear shades.”

Yet another bucket list moment, seeing Starry Night in person at the MoMa (Museum of Modern Art.)  Painted in 1889 by Vincent VanGogh, the scene depicts the view outside his window at the asylum he checked himself in to.  Consequently, he left out the bars to give us a wide expanse of French countryside lit by the morning star.  In the foreground, you can also see the silhouette of cypress trees, which often signify death.  That may explain why VanGogh wrote the following to his brother, Theo, during his time at the asylum- “Looking at the stars always makes me dream.  Why, I ask myself, shouldn’t the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France?  Just as we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star.”

The texture of Starry Night is simply breathtaking.  You can see each individual brushstroke, giving the illusion that the stars are flickering.

The 9/11 memorial is a beautiful tribute to the many lives lost on that tragic day.  The names of victims are carved into the slabs surrounding the two fountains, signifying the void their death has left (just as the footprints of where each tower stood signifies their absence.)

The tradition of Love Locks is not lost on New York.  Here are a few I saw while walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge took over 14 years to complete at a price tag of $15 million ($320 million by today’s standards!)  It was also responsible for 24 deaths during its construction, including that of its designer.  It’s a beautiful way to get from the Brooklyn borough to Manhattan and carries about 150,000 pedestrians and vehicles each day.

One of my favorite things about New York is the wide variety of eateries you find around every corner.  Don’t see something that blows your skirt up?  Walk to the next block and I’m sure something will catch your eye!

New York City at sunset, looking out over Ellis Island and Liberty Island.  I had to leave dinner and run down the water to capture this light but man, it was worth it with these colors!

The iconic lions outside New York City Public Library.  You may recognize them from movies like Ghostbusters, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Sex & the City.

One of my favorite memories in life- watching an old black and white movie in Bryant Park on a beautiful summer evening.  What I wouldn’t give to go back to this exact moment.

The most photographed piece of art in New York City is the Prometheus statue in Rockefeller Center.  The often-overlooked inscription reads “Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends.”  Sidenote- during warmer months you can sit next to the statue and order a glass of wine.  Consider this Greek god your date!

Because the city is such a melting pot between visitors and residents from all walks of life, you can meet some really fantastic people!  A couple girlfriends and I were enjoying a glass of wine on a rooftop overlooking the Empire State Building when we met a few guys from Switzerland.  We had so much fun and we laughed all night!

Grand Central Station is a stunning sight as you enter the city.  If you’re there make sure to check out the restaurant on the second floor of the concourse.   Its tapas are to die for!

If you’re in New York you absolutely have to catch a Broadway show.  I saw the classic Phantom of the Opera, and it was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Tears!

There’s nothing like exploring the concrete jungle with a good friend!  After a day of sightseeing, we ended it singing Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York” and dancing through Times Square.   At 3am, you really don’t have to worry about many people judging you for being completely ridiculous.