Discovering a New Side of New York

While avid travelers like me are always looking for new destinations to explore, I also find great pleasure in returning to cities I’ve visited before. It gives me the chance to dig my heels into the local culture, and allows me more time to go off the beaten path. My latest visit to New York City was a great reminder of why great cities deserve multiple trips.

Spending time in New York during the winter allowed me to see another side of this bustling metropolis: while the cold weather can be a bit of a challenge, the streets are less crowded than in the hot summer months, and I had the chance to see new sides of the city. Although I arrived after the holidays, I was still able to soak up some of the lingering holiday vibes, from the warm glow of Christmas lights to the sight of people cheerfully gliding across ice rinks.

A Winter Wonderland

Even in the coldest months of the year, New York’s parks and green spaces provided beautiful oases of calm and inspiration. I absolutely love the great outdoors and, perhaps surprisingly, New York City is filled with parks, gardens, and greenery at every turn. Places like Central Park, Madison Square Park, and Bryant Park allow you to reconnect with nature in the midst of one of the largest cities in the world. That said, perhaps two of the most unique parks in NYC are the High Line and Lowline parks. The High Line Park is an elevate green space built along an old railroad track. Stretch from the Hudson Yards to Chelsea, this green space provides a surreal view of surrounding neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Lowline Park is the world’s first underground park, built inside an abandoned trolley terminal. I’m absolutely in awe of the creative ways New Yorkers find to incorporate greenery into their lives!

Unrivalled Cultural Diversity

During my latest visit, I explored new places that I hadn’t had the chance to see my first time around. New York is one of the most culturally rich places in the world, so I made sure to soak up all the art and culture I could get my hands on. To start, I spent more time getting to know Chinatown, which is one of the city’s most authentic and down-to-earth neighborhoods. While there, I enjoyed an incredible meal at the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. This charming dim sum restaurant has been around since 1920, and serves up some of the tastiest Chinese food around.

Art Enthusiasts, Rejoice!

NYC is also home to some of the best museums on Earth, and a visit to the incredible Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was on my agenda this time around. The museum gets quite busy, so I highly recommend getting there as early as possible. In keeping with my desire to embrace the city’s artistic and cultural offerings, I also attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Metropolitan Opera. The opera house is exceptionally beautiful, and the performance was so moving and surreal.

Local Life and Stylish Living

Of course, one of the highlights of this trip to New York was spending time with locals and getting a feel for life in the Big Apple. Hanging out on rooftops, visiting the public library, walking across the Brooklyn bridge, enjoying luxurious lunches and tea times in hotels like the St. Regis, the Ritz-Carlton, Baccarat Hotel, and the Algonquin… it’s this diversity of experiences that really sums up New York life.

When one of my local friends suggested we take a trip to the Meatpacking district, I was surprised and delighted to find a neighborhood filled with style and glamour. This area is teeming with chic cafes and restaurants, charming art galleries, trendy boutiques, and some of the hottest bars in the city. If you make your way to the Meatpacking district, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art; it’s breathtaking.

There’s really no telling where a day in New York City might take you: just be sure to dress stylishly and be prepared for whatever this incredible metropolis throws your way!