Edited by Ann Marie Elpa
New York City has been one of my favourite cities ever since I first visited there when I was a kid. I was incredibly excited to go there for two days with my family over the winter holidays. We managed to get a lot done in quite a short span of time, so I thought I’d write an article about everything we did!
Times Square
Basic – I know. However, you can’t go to New York City without visiting here! Times Square is one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions – attracting 50 million visitors annually. Times Square is the home to the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop and other famous attractions – such as M&M World, the Disney Store, and Times Square Studios (which is used for ESPN and ABC News programs, such as Good Morning America).
Me in Times Square
M&Ms World
This is New York City’s largest candy store! It has a 50-foot wide, two story high, “wall of chocolate” which is made of 72 continuous candy filled tubes. There’s even an option to customize your own bag of M&Ms!
The Chocolate Wall
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Since we visited in the wintertime, we got to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree! The tree attracts 125 million people each year. The first Christmas Tree at Rockefeller was erected in 1931. Since then, it has been a yearly tradition.
My family and I in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Radio City Hall
Radio City Hall is known as being the headquarters of the Rockettes, a precision dance company. This Hall has been the home of many award shows, including the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, and the NFL Draft.
Outside Radio City Hall
Carlo’s Bake Shop
Calling all food lovers! The first Carlo’s Bakery was in Hoboken, New Jersey and gained popularity as a result of being the location of the TLC show, Cake Boss. The Times Square location is the first branch location of the franchise.
Inside of the Bakery
Andrew’s Coffee Shop
Andrew’s Coffee Shop is a family-owned restaurant located close to Madison Square Garden, Penn Station and Times Square. I highly recommend this coffee shop – a warm atmosphere, wonderful food and a great aesthetic!
I forgot to take a picture of the restaurant, but here’s a picture of me before enjoying my food!
Nintendo New York
My family and I went here because my little brother was dying to come. The two story, 10,000 square foot building has lots of Nintendo merchandise and apparel, and has some things that are exclusive to the store such as Japanese Mario plushies. The store regularly holds tournaments and shows for new games and also holds screenings for official Nintendo broadcasts.
Me with a Chikorita Plush at the Nintendo Store
Trump Tower
The 58 story, 664 foot tall building is the headquarters for the Trump Organization. It has the penthouse residence for United States President Donald Trump. My family and I had to go through security and we saw several members of the Secret Service in the building.
Outside of Trump Tower
Central Park
The most visited urban park in the United States and the most filmed locations in the world, Central Park is a must if you visit NYC! Enjoy a carriage ride through the park, buy food from the many food trucks located around the area, or visit one of the Park’s 21 playgrounds – there’s so much to do!
A scene from the Park
Me in Central Park
Madame Tussauds New York
This is a wax museum in New York, located very close to Times Square. With 5 floors and over 100 figures, it has become a very popular tourist attraction. Some popular wax figures here include Barack Obama, Marilyn Monroe, and Kylie Jenner.
Kylie Jenner’s wax figure
Ernest Hemingway
Glossier
On November 8th, 2018, Glossier opened its first flagship store on 123 Lafayette Street in New York City. This is the same address where the company was originally founded in 2014. The store has a beautiful aesthetic, the employees are incredibly friendly, and the makeup gives a very natural look.
My mom and I at the Glossier Store
Overall, I had a great time in New York City!