Travel Diary: New York, New York

 No matter how many times I visit New York City, there's always something new to see. It's an ever changing and expanding city; a city full of life and endless excitement. Because of this, I always leave utterly exhausted but feeling like I could have/should have seen more.

On my most recent trip, we decided to just come up with a couple things we would plan to do and spend the rest of the time wandering and exploring. This meant a lot of time walking the streets, stopping at cafes and lingering over a bottle of wine. When you stop trying to fit it all in, you are better able to appreciate the little gems of the city.

Because of how much there is to do and see, it would be impossible to give you a list of things to check off when visiting the Big Apple. But here are 5 things (out of a never ending, always changing list) I'd recommend when visiting NYC.

1. Shop the Flea Markets

New York has some of the best shopping in the world. Full of designer stores and boutique shops, you can find anything and everything. But my favorite places to shop when I visit the city are the flea markets. On this trip, we hit up the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, where I walked away with some vintage jewelry, a caftan dress, and a fringe vest (all of which will make appearances in upcoming outfit posts).

2. Be a Tourist (at least a little)

As a fan of venturing off the beaten path, I usually try and avoid tourist traps when I travel. But when visiting New York, it's unavoidable. So when I visit the city, I embrace being a tourist and try and pick one stereotypical tourist attraction to see. This trip, we took the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. It's free and allows for some great photo ops of both the city and Lady Liberty.

3. Visit the World Trade Center Memorial 

 This was an important stop for us. Last time I was in Manhattan, the 9/11 memorial was still under construction, so I was glad to be able to pay my respects to the site during this trip. It gave us time to share and reflect about the day while visiting the incredibly impressive and moving tribute. Definitely make the effort to visit if you haven't done so.

4. Get Lost in the Met

The newest Costume Institute exhibit, China: Through the Looking Glass, recently opened to the public at The Met, so naturally it was high on my list of things to do. Not only was the exhibit beautifully done and a highlight of the trip, but the entire museum is worth getting lost in for the day.

5. Eat (and Drink!)

This goes without saying, but half of what you do in Manhattan is eat and drink. Cafes and bakeries. Street food and five star dining. Rooftop bars and underground speakeasies. It's all good. Try and experience as much variety as you can. 

What are your favorite things to see and do when you visit New York City?

Travel Diary: 7 Tips for Enjoying the Finger Lakes

As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently took some time away to recharge and recover.

Deciding I needed to get out of town, I escaped to New York, spending the majority of the week Upstate (mostly the Finger Lakes region) and a couple days in Manhattan (more on that next week).

 If you've never been to the Finger Lakes, GO. It's incredibly relaxing, the people are extremely friendly, and the area is absolutely stunning. And if you're planning a trip, here are a few of my tips for enjoying the Finger Lakes:

1. Explore the Wine Trail.
Pick a lake and circle it. Stop at vineyards that speak to you. Since I was staying on Seneca Lake, I spent the majority of my time in that area, but there are a range of vineyards all over. Tip: share one tasting with two other friends. That way you’ll get to taste more wine as well as keep your wits, dignity, and safe driving skills intact.

2. Visit a Creamery.
I’d recommend Muranda’s. For 2 bucks you get to taste about 15 incredible varieties of cheese made right on the farm. If possible, request Tom for the tasting. He is full of knowledge and humor and is generous with his portions.

3. Rent a House on the Lake.
Avoid the hotels and look at sites like airbnb or VRBO for houses or apartments for rent. Because I prefer a kitchen and privacy, it's how I choose to travel. And if you have more than one person, it's usually more affordable than your standard, run of the mill hotels. Also, you can get some incredible views.

4. Just Drive.
Take a road trip and explore, stopping at anything that looks appealing. On our trip, we discovered thrift stores, farm stands, waterfalls, restaurants, and ice cream shops without doing an ounce of research. We headed to Ithaca for the day for food, shopping, and hiking. We drove to the Catskills and stumbled upon an abandoned castle deep in the woods. Roll down your windows, turn up your music, and go.

5. Do Go Chasing Waterfalls.
I don't know how you can visit this region and not see the waterfalls. They are everywhere. Take a hike, get some fresh air, and don't be afraid to get wet. We hiked Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls in Ithaca (which are taller than Niagra Falls!). Explore and find your own. There are plenty.

6. Relax. Don’t Plan. Just Go. (Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out).
As a planner, this tip would ordinarily be difficult. But considering my schedule the last few weeks, I had zero time to plan anything. And it was glorious. I spent each day doing what I felt like in the moment, not feeling obligated to do what was planned. Some days that meant renting a video and falling asleep early to a movie. On mornings I felt like being active, I took long walks along the lake. One day we explored the little town of Geneva and stumbled upon live music and oysters at Red Dove Tavern and found great wine and even better service at Microclimate (If you are in the area, go to both). There is so much to see and do, you can't go wrong. Be okay figuring it out along the way.

And lastly...

7. Disconnect.
It helped that we had no internet or wifi in our house. But damn, am I glad I didn’t. I didn’t worry about email. I didn’t check pinterest. I read and slept and laughed and explored and did all the things you have time to do when you are disconnected from a computer screen.