Top 3 Travel Destinations — New York City

Where do I start from? Let’s just say everything you’ve heard or read or dreamt about NYC is probably true! Like that city is a whole vibe. The energy is so palpable and it is a place where anything feels possible. If I got a free ticket to go anywhere today, I’d probably choose New York. You know that song, Empire State of Mind where it says “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of // There’s nothing you can’t do // Now you’re in New York'', yep, that's exactly the feeling I get when I’m in NYC - the possibilities feel endless. When I’m in New York, I feel like all my dreams could come true. New York City is wild, it’s intoxicating, it’s crazy but for me, it gives hope - yep that’s the word - New York city leaves you feeling hopeful.

My favourite things about New York City

• The food - NYC is a foodie’s haven because being such a multicultural city, the food options are endless. There’s literally something for every palate and budget. But my favourite NYC food still remains the bagel. Like, if I wrote about all the bagel varieties I’ve eaten in NYC, there won’t be enough space in this blog post to capture it. Like I would go to bed dreaming of the bagel I would have for breakfast the next day! Besides the bagel, I also tried some of the most amazing Japanese food I’ve ever tried. One of my partner’s friends took us to this Japanese restaurant in City Island and just writing about it now is making my mouth water. It was that good!

• Times Square - We stayed in Manhattan when we visited which meant the Times Square was at our doorstep. We were literally there everyday and we would sometimes go there to people-watch and trust me, there were plenty of colourful characters to watch. The other thing I liked was that even though we were in Times Square which was always busy, the noise never travelled up to our hotel room. Like, I would wake up at 3:00am due to jet lag, look out the window and the streets would still be busy but not a single sound could be heard.

• Central Park - My partner and I took many walks in central park and each time felt like it was the first time. It’s such a scenic place that you almost forget about the hustle and bustle of NYC when you're there.

• The architecture and landmarks - I love design and architecture and NYC is teeming with some of the world’s most incredible and historical architectural designs. I still recall my excitement coming off the subway, walking up the stairs and seeing the Flatiron building - incredible! Taking in the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building from the Rockefeller centre still remains one of my favourite memories. Seeing the Statue of Liberty while on a boat cruise with our own private chef is definitely a memory I relish. Visiting the One World Trade Centre in September around the 9/11 anniversary was both surreal and deeply moving.

• The museums - NYC has some of the best museums in the world and like I said previously, I love visiting museums so it was a no-brainer that I had to check out the museums in NYC. My favourites are MOMA and the Met. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to the Guggenheim, so it's on my to-do list when next I'm in New York.

• Broadway - Prior to visiting New York, I wasn’t a theatre buff and I won’t particularly describe myself as one even now. But, I’m a big believer in trying new things even if it’s just once, and seeing a Broadway show was one of those things I decided to try with my partner and we were both pleasantly surprised at how much we loved it. We saw The Book of Mormon and it was beautifully done!

Random tit-bit - You know people talk about what a cultural melting pot certain cities are, but you get there and people that look or sound like you are just a handful? Yeah that's happened to me many times. But New York is truly multicultural - like I literally heard someone speaking Yoruba (my mother tongue) on the streets of Manhattan. Like I didn't go looking, it was random. I felt I was home! The only other city I've experienced this is London and that was understandable given its proximity to Nigeria and the Nigerian population there. Experiencing this in New York felt nice, in a way that reminded me of home.

Curious about visiting New York and feeling overwhelmed by what to do, where to stay or eat, chat to the Wanderlust By Design team today. We know what it feels like to navigate NYC as a non-local and can provide you with practical tips to make your visit less overwhelming.

Be well,

JJ