United States

Tips for visiting Times Square for the first time by a New Yorker

August 18, 2019 by Dawn Allcott 1 Comment

Last Updated on August 18, 2019

Like Shibuya Station in Tokyo and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Times Square is an imminently recognizable tourist stop. The ads on the giant screens at One Times Square – where the New Year’s Eve ball drops every year – might change, but the energy of the intersection has only grown with time.

Times Square sits in the heart of Manhattan’s Theatre District, spanning West 42^nd to West 47^th Streets across Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Some sources extend this designation to 40^th and 53^rd Streets and 6^th to 9^th Avenues. This article will discuss the best things to do in Times Square with input from New Yorkers with some helpful tips for visiting Times Square for the first time.

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Tips for visiting Ellis Island for first-time visitors by a New Yorker

August 8, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on August 8, 2019

As a born and raised New Yorker whose grandfather went through Ellis Island, it was a truly special experience to revisit Ellis Island again recently. Maybe it’s something about being young, but visiting Ellis Island this time definitely was far more special. I hope that these tips for visiting Ellis Island for the first time help you enjoy this historic museum that is certainly worth visiting!

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20 Tips for taking a road trip in the USA for the first time by an American

July 31, 2019 by Dawn Allcott Leave a Comment

Last Updated on July 31, 2019

The car is packed and you’re headed on a long-awaited road trip. Whether you’re taking your own vehicle coast-to-coast, or you’re renting a car to make a U.S. road trip part of your international adventure, a little planning goes a long way.

With 20 years of traveling up and down the Eastern seaboard, plus car trips to Chicago, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, I’ve picked up a few handy tips to share for taking a road trip in the United States. I hope that these helpful tips help you plan your US road trip!

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How to see the Manhattan skyline by boat for less than $3

July 6, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

Last Updated on July 6, 2019

You’ve probably heard of the Staten Island ferry, the free ferry that runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. This ferry for tourists and locals is a great way to see the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, but there are far more ferries than this line. This post will be introducing you to the New York Ferry system, the ferries with the best views, and why you should definitely take a boat ride to enjoy the Manhattan skyline.

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Is New York City worth visiting? A native New Yorker’s opinion!

July 4, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

Last Updated on July 4, 2019

One of the best things about being from New York is meeting people from all over the world who are curious about visiting New York City. They always want to know what New York City is like and whether it’s worth visiting New York City as a tourist (or if it’s just all hype!). As a native New Yorker now living elsewhere, I have a few things to say on this topic!

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Flushing, Queens: The NYC neighborhood that you must visit

June 27, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

Last Updated on June 28, 2019

One of my favorite neighborhoods in New York City has to be Flushing, Queens. This incredibly diverse neighborhood is at the heart of Queens’ Chinese community, a favorite place of the late Anthony Bourdain, and an incredibly historic place. This guide to Flushing, Queens will include the best things to do in Flushing, Queens, where to eat in Flushing (an incomplete list, but a start!), and a brief history of Flushing’s Dutch/English past. I could not be prouder to be from Queens!

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

June 14, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on June 14, 2019

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

June 12, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on June 13, 2019

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

June 11, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on June 11, 2019

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

June 9, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on June 9, 2019

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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