Wanderlustingk

Karen

15 best places to shop in New York on a budget by a New Yorker

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Shopping in New York is truly a classic activity. As someone who is pretty budget conscious, but who loves a nice statement piece, I went big when I visited my parents recently. I went to a lot of my favorite places to shop in New York as well as some new places that I hadn’t yet been to.

I’ve tried to only discuss limit this post about the best budget shopping in New York City to places that have quality items for a reasonable price, e.g. designer clothes/shoes for 50-70% off retail and stores that simply carry good quality without charging you insane amounts. I also include secondhand shopping, which is a passion of mine. I also include some money-saving tips!

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Your perfect Netherlands itinerary by a Dutch resident

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After over three years of living in the Netherlands, I’ve been asked a lot about how much time to spend in the Netherlands.  A lot of people speed through the Netherlands only stopping for one day in Amsterdam, but I’d recommend enjoying at least 7 days in the Netherlands if you have the chance.  I’ll be covering the highlights of the Netherlands and tips for getting around the Netherlands in this Dutch itinerary.

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The best things to do in Asti, Italy for independent travelers

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One of the most famous towns of Piedmont, Italy has to be Asti. This charming town is world-renown for its wine, however, Asti offers far more things to do than just enjoy wine. This smaller city offers the charm of bigger cities without the crowds, some notable museums, and some beautiful churches. Follow this guide to Asti to discover the best things to do in Asti, Italy!

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14 insider tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty by a New Yorker

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One of the most majestic places to visit in New York is the Statue of Liberty. This iconic American sight is the symbol of New York and even as a New Yorker, I had to revisit Lady Liberty on my recent trip. I’ve included some insider tips for avoiding lines when visiting the Statue of Liberty, tips for getting reasonable tickets for the Statue of Liberty (including climbing the crown), and general travel tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty for the first time.

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A guide to the best Jewish food on the Lower East Side by a New Yorker

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As someone who grew up in New York City, one could even say that bagels run in my blood. Although New York is rapidly changing, especially Manhattan, the Lower East Side still has many of the best places to sample Jewish food in New York. This guide to the Lower East Side is set up as a self-guided walking tour of the best Jewish bakeries and restaurants in the LES (if not Manhattan).

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Junior’s Cheesecake: The authentic cheesecake that you must try in NYC

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Is there anything as iconic as New York cheesecake? If you’re visiting New York City, I highly recommend visiting Junior’s Cheesecake in Downtown Brooklyn. This Brooklyn diner serving up cheesecake, hearty sandwiches, coffee, and egg creams is famous the world over. I include some tips for visiting Junior’s for the first time–and a bit of history of the New York cheesecake.

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The best way to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan step-by-step

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As a native New Yorker, I encourage people to take the Airtrain and LIRR trains when arriving into JFK. This guide will walk you through how to get from JFK Airport in Queens to Manhattan step-by-step with photos as there are a few steps involved. This is the best and fastest way to get to Manhattan from JFK airport as you avoid traffic that you’d hit if you took a cab.

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Century 21: The New York discount department store you’ll want to visit

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One of the major perks of visiting New York City has to be shopping. Especially if you’re visiting from abroad, it can be tough to buy reputable brands of good quality. This post is about a New York City-based department store that you might not have heard of that specializes in designer brands at a significant discount called Century 21 Stores. This post discusses this discount department store and some tips for visiting!

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11 easy ways to meet locals while traveling with stories!

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If you’re traveling solo (or with friends), one of the best moments of trips is making a local friend who will show you the ropes of a city. There’s nothing like walking around with a knowledgeable local, hanging out all night learning about the local culture/food/language, and knowing that you have someone to meet up with next time you’re back in town. I’ve made a lot of great friends while traveling and I’ve rounded up more than 10 ways to meet locals while traveling with real stories from travelers!

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A food guide to Arthur Avenue: New York’s real Little Italy in the Bronx

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It’s funny how long it can take to visit places that are right on your doorstep. My dad and I ventured to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx recently. This charming slice of Italy is one of the last bastions of true Italian culture in New York at its finest (far better than Little Italy in Manhattan!) and one of the only places where I’d argue that you’d hear Italian spoken on the streets of New York City.

We spent a day going shop-to-shop chatting with the owners and collecting ingredient-by-ingredient for the best pasta that I’ve had on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. I hope this guide to this Little Italy in the Bronx inspires you to visit. I include practical information to visit Arthur Avenue without a food tour, where to buy the best Italian ingredients along Arthur Avenue, and most importantly where to eat in Arthur Avenue. I’ve formatted this as a DIY food tour of Arthur Avenue. Buon Appetito!

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