Girly Guide to New York

Landing in Newark Aiport to be faced with long queues at the immigration control desk following a 7 hour flight was hardly the adrenaline filled, glamourous start to my New York adventure that I had spent years dreaming about.However, following an overpriced ($120), maniacally driven, taxi ride I arrived on Broadway/ West 50th Street and breathed in the polluted, musky scent of New York, every few minutes also picking up on the scent of hotdogs from the street vendor's carts. It was impossible not to feel butterflies gazing along towards Times Square and noting the huge Mamma Mia sign smiling down on me from above the Wintergarden Theatre. We paused breifly at a Duane Reade to pick up essentials-root beer and Payday bars, me standing outside with our cases and despite the flight, early airport check-in and the fact that the excitement of the trip had given me 3 days of insomnia I suddenly felt alert, excited and desperate to start sightseeing.New York is like a movie set and is an incredible experience travel experience. The hustle and bustle of Times Square is a stark contrast to the scenic and, at times, ambient Central Park. Here's my Girly Guide to New York:

Sightseeing In New York

My recommended sights (in no particular order).

1.Empire State Building- Located between 5th avenue and West 54th street, the Empire State Building's 86th and 102nd floor observatories offer panoramic, dizzying views of the city.The Empire State Building is one of New York's most instantly recognisable landmarks. Get there early, book your tickets online and expect queues. Making it even more worthwhile, Macy's is within walking distance so plan your itinerary to incorporate the two :)




http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_visitorinfo.cfm?CFID=38986407&CFTOKEN=51390133



2. The Statue of Liberty-One of New York's most iconic sights, the Statue of Liberty should be part of every itinerary when visiting New York. Seeing Lady Liberty in front of me was a "butterflies" experience an honestly left me quite awe struck. It's was one of those moments where you know you're in New York. If you plan to do New York on a budget, and that budget is centered around leaving as much shopping money as possible then take the Staten Island ferry. This is the free way to see the Statue of Liberty and it means no lengthy queues, saving time and money. The Staten Island Ferry offers also offers views of the lower Manhattan skyline.

http://www.siferry.com/







http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm


3.Brooklyn Bridge- Connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge is well worth seeing, even if the only thing it represents to you is that Miranda and Steve from Sex and the City got back together there. And you cried at that part of the movie :) We walked the Brooklyn Bridge on a particularly clear, warm day and it was one of my favourte sights. A wonderful spot for picture taking and it gives you a good view of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Walk it! It's free, enviromentally friendly and gives you the chance to burn off some of those $1 hotdogs.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60827-d102741/Brooklyn:New-York:Brooklyn.Bridge.htmladvisor.com/Travel-g60827-d102741/Brooklyn:New-York:Brooklyn.Bridge.html4.Grandadvisor.com/Travel-g60827-d102741/Brooklyn:New-York:Brooklyn.Bridge.html

4.Grand Central Station- This was a sight I had been desperate to visit since reading Catcher in The Rye. The Grand Central Station is the world's largest train station and is known for it's stunning main concourse with floods light pouring in from the huge arched windows and the famous zodiac mural on the ceiling. Also, be sure to visit the Whispering Gallery, stand at the opposit corner of the gallery from your friend and whisper. The acoustics provided by the ceramics mean you can hear each other perfectly :) There is also an old fashioned shoe shining service inside.This is another free sight that is easily incorporated into your trip if you plan on using the train/subway and it's worth noting that the New York library (Carrie and Big's original wedding venue) is within easy walking distance.

http://grandcentralterminal.com/

5. Central Park- Central Park is picturesque, diverse and huge, taking up 6% of Manhattan. Relax and picnic in the summer or ice skate in the winter, just make sure you visit. Beatles fans can visit the Imagine Mosaic, a tribute to John Lennon. Visit the Carousel, as mentioned in Catcher In The Rye, or the Central Park Zoo. The park is in close proximity to the American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art and St. Patrick's Cathedral. However, if you're more interested in shopping than visiting the museums Bloomingdales, Tiffany & Co and Abercrombie & Fitch and all nearby.

http://www.centralpark.com/








Things to Do

Not exactly sightseeing but fun things to do when in the Big Apple.


1. Visit the Magnolia Bakery- Made famous in Sex and the City, this quirky bakery in Bleecker Street sells New York's cutest and possibly most iconic cupcakes. Prices started from about $2.50 when we visited in 2009. This is a must do for Sex and the City fans as it's a free way to see some of the places the the show put on the map. The tiny bakery offers a huge range of gorgeous cupcakes in little white cake boxes and Sarah Jessica Parker is apparently often spotted at the park nearby. So buy a cupcake and relax in park, however, not before stopping at 66 Perry Street which is just minutes away. This is the home of Carrie Bradshaw and you get a chance to take pictures at her famous steps. This was one of the highlights of my tour and I became ridiculously excited. The apartment from Friends is also nearby, if you're a fan, it's on the corner of Grove and Bedford, Greenwich Village. Print off a map of the area from Google maps before you go to keep you right.

http://www.magnoliabakery.com/







2. Visit Madame Taussauds- Okay, you can do this in a lot of major cites but it's a fun way to kill a few hours if you have time on your hands on a cold/wet/snowy day in New York. Located in Times Square, Madame Taussauds is a display of wonderfully lifelike waxworks of major celebrities and politicians. Pose with Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt and pretend that's who paid for your Tiffany & Co jewellry, it'll ease off that credit card guilt.



http://www.madametussauds.com/NewYork/





3. Visit Times Square-This is possibly the busiest place in Manhattan, with a constant stream of tourists, locals and people trying to sell tickets to comedy shows, Broadways shows etc. Visit Toys R us and see the 60ft ferris wheel. Eat in Planet Hollywood or The Hard Rock Cafe. Stock up on sweets at the Hersheys Store.You will find yourself stopping to look up at the sky scrapers or take a picture, the only thing is, you stop but the rest of Times Square doesnt and you will find yourself being walked into so take advantage of the steps and chairs around the middle of Times Square (near tkts booth) for photos.





4. See a show on Broadway- A visit to New York wouldn't be complete without seeing a Broadway Show.The tkts booth in Times Square offers discounts on tickets for Broadway shows on the day if you're visiting New York on a budget. Be prepared to queue and show up early. It's well worth it to see one of the spectular shows such as Mamma Mia or Wicked. If you want to get your tickets in advance, look up what you want to see in advance and look online for discounts.
http://www.broadwaybox.com/


I'll update asap with more advice,tips and info on New York :) x