United States

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

August 18, 2019 by Dawn Allcott 1 Comment

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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Best brunch in NYC: Your insider guide to 8 great brunch places in lower Manhattan

June 6, 2018 by Karen 1 Comment

In New York City, brunch isn’t just a meal — it’s a way of life. Come the weekend, New Yorkers will line up around the block for a chance to eat at the newest brunch place in New York. I’ll be the first to admit that I am the most indecisive person when it comes to brunch.

With so many options in so many neighborhoods, how on earth do you decide where to go? Today, I’ll be sharing a post by Margaret, a fellow New Yorker, about her favorite brunch places in lower Manhattan.

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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

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

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

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

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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The Ultimate Guide to Niagara Falls: An honest guide to Niagara Falls by a resident

June 10, 2018 by Karen 32 Comments

As a former Buffalo resident who has been to Niagara Falls more times than I can count, it was time to write a complete guide to Niagara Falls with tips for travelers visiting these epic waterfalls.

Visiting Niagara Falls is a magical experience, especially for families, and it ranks high on many people’s bucket lists. Here you’ll find tips to help you decide which side of Niagara Falls to visit, where to eat in Niagara Falls, when is the best time to visit Niagara Falls, and logistics on how to get to Niagara Falls.

This guide includes a FREE Niagara Falls map that you can download offline with Google Maps at the end!

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Flushing, Queens: The NYC neighborhood that you must visit

June 27, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

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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How to ride the NYC subway: Essential subway tips by a New Yorker

April 18, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

I grew up in New York City, so it perplexes me when visiting friends tell me they don’t understand the New York City public transportation system. Let’s fix this now.

In this NYC subway guide by a native New Yorker, you’ll find essential tips on how to ride the New York City subway, how not to get on the wrong subway, what not to do on the New York City subway, how to get from JFK to Manhattan by subway, and other insider tips for the New York city subway by a New Yorker.

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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

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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