As you know, this is one of the BUSIEST weeks to travel to NYC throughout the year. Between the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, and of course the infamous Christmas Tree lighting, also at Rockefeller Center, there are numerous reasons to visit at this time. V and I wanted to do things a little differently, so this is what we did while avoiding the big crowds and got a once in a life time NYC experience.
V and I traveled with my Sister Kaylie and my Grandma Dottie, which if you check out the vlog below you will see them. V and I actually got to NYC a couple hours before and went and ate at Ray’s Pizza. It is DELICIOUS, I have to eat here every time I go to New York, and I highly suggest you go as well. I also MUST get a black and white cookie from Juniors Bakery, do not leave New York without one of these cookies. They are also world known for their cheesecake. Then, the four of us spent our first night exploring Times Square… Okay yes I know there are crowds here, but it’s a MUST SEE and we got it over with the first night. We took pictures on the famous Red Steps, got s’mores and lots of goodies from Hershey’s Chocolate World, and just walked around in awe of all of the lights. We actually stayed right off of Time’s Square which is very convenient, because it has lots of tours going from there and is pretty centrally located to all you want to do.
The next morning we woke up early and got on a City Sight Seeing Bus Tour to go around to different parts of New York. I highly suggest getting one of these in New York because there is just so much to see and if you take the subway or a taxi you could miss a lot. Plus, I like the idea of getting off wherever I want in the spur of the moment, and when I’m ready to go that there is a bus coming up and I don’t have to worry about transportation. We saw stops while on the bus such as Central Park, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and all of the popular places with the big crowds, but decided we wanted to get off in Brooklyn. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of Gossip Girl, so I was channeling little J the entire time with my fishnets and thigh high boots, and I loved every second of it. We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which prepare for a bit of a walk when you go, but know that it is so worth it! The views from that bridge are incredible. We then crossed over and went to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade where you can find in my opinion, the BEST view of the New York Skyline. Check out the picture below. We rode back into town and walked through Chinatown. We walked into the local market, did a little shopping, and of course ate. We then went to Little Italy, where I had to have dessert and spent too much time in the store called Christmas and City. There are so many ornaments and decorations, you will think you died and went to Christmas Heaven! After this, we went back to the hotel and changed for a night out.
Later that evening, we went met up with a friend that lives in New York and had dinner. We then went to the Hell’s Kitchen area and went out for a night of dancing and shows. This was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. This is the place to go out with girlfriends and have a girl’s night out if you are in New York. V had fun tearing up the dance floor to some “bidi bidi bom bom” himself.
The next morning we hopped back on the bus tour and rode in to Harlem. Here we walked around exploring until we got to the infamous Apollo Theater. This is my other favorite part of the trip. As you walk up you see the names of all the greats who have performed here and paved the way for the entertainment industry that stands today. We walk inside and as we stand mesmerized, a nice man offers us the chance to actually go see inside the theater and see where all the magic has happened… This nice man was none other than MR APOLLO himself! Billy Mitchell AKA Mr Apollo gave us the grand tour and described the history and importance of the Apollo Theater, as well as telling us about his story and how he became Mr Apollo. Learn more about him by clicking here ! We then went to Sylvia’s Soul Food Restaurant, where we got full on collard greens, chicken, mac and cheese and one of the BEST slices of red velvet cake I’ve ever eaten. Afterwards, we headed back to the city to enjoy our last night.
That night we met up with more friends and went to this popular roof top bar with a legendary view of the city called MR PURPLE. I highly suggest going there to at least have one drink, but go while there is still light outside in order to capture great snapshots. It was too dark for us to get any good photos, and it was so cold, that we spent most of our time indoors. This would be a great place to go and relax during the warmer months, as there is also a pool on the roof top.
Next we went and had dinner at Beauty & Essex. This place is so cool because it is actually a hidden gem, literally it is hidden. You have to get to it through a secret door located behind a pawn shop. It is very unique! It is a little more pricey, but if you want to splurge for one night, then I highly suggest it. HUGE PLUS LADIES, they give out free champagne in the restroom, so be sure to go and get you a glass. It is a once in a lifetime experience. After here we made our way back to the hotel and had to pack up.
The next morning we had to leave the city by noon to catch a bus to Providence, but before we did, V and I went and watched as much of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as possible. There is nothing like it, you really should go experience it at least once in your life time. It is very crowded and extremely cold, so plan ahead to get there early and buy lots of hand warmers. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has a special place in my heart since I actually performed in it with my college Dance Team, the Texas State Strutters back in 2012. So of course, I see this as a MUST DO.
Last thing I want to say is PACK WARM. It is pretty cold in New York this time of year, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. Maybe I am just used to the Texas heat, but it was a bit for me at night some times.
I really hope this blog helps you in planning your next trip to the big apple! Please don’t forget to follow our blog on the home page. Also, follow us on Instagram by clicking here and subscribe to our YouTube page here 🙂
KASVENTURES 