New York: Times Square

My final New York post - this means I'm going to have to accept that the holiday is over. Even though it technically has been for months 'inserts sad face emoji' 

This blog is all dedicated to Times Square. Of course when you go to New York this is one of the first sites you will go see.

New York: The Met Museum

One of the other sites that I really wanted to visit whilst in New York was the Metropolitan Museum of art.

I will admit this was mainly from watching Gossip Girl over and over and wanting to get a picture on the steps of the met. 

Once we arrived there the building was magnificent! It's just a donation to get a ticket and inside it is absolutely massive, like a maze. 

The section we browsed around was on the Egyptians there were so many artefacts! Mummies, sarcophaguses, Egyptian jewellery and even a temple. 

Everything on display seemed so grand and magnificent and they had a wonderful room where one wall was basically just a window, then there was a water feature. It was blocked off here I think they were setting it up for a wedding reception. 

I imagine it would make a stunning venue!

Unfortunately as all we had done that day was walk round everybody was overly tired by the time we got to the met. Which meant we only went round the section with artefacts from Ancient Egypt and then went back to the hotel.

I would love to go back and peruse some of the other exhibits, I don't think you'd get round all of it even if you spent a whole day in there!

I've included some of the photos I snapped above and below. This includes the mandatory picture on the steps of the met Gossip Girl style.

Have you visited the met Museum or New York in general? What did you enjoy the most?

Thanks for Reading!

New York: The Plaza and The Rockefeller

While wandering around New York we saw some iconic building from history and media. The two I got rather excited about were: The Rockefeller and The Plaza.

Unfortunately the Rockefeller was closed when we walked past but I did get a lovely photo of it at night all lit up. They even still had some Christmas trees out front as it was February at the time.

                                             

New York: Central Park

While in New York the one place that had to be visited, that is constantly mentioned in films and TV Shows is Central Park. We chose to walk through the park while on the way to the Museum of Natural History and it did not disappoint it was massive!

Having only seen glimpses of it from films I had no idea what to expect, I thought it would be a normal park that just consists of grass. How wrong I was! The park had its own roads for cyclists, those horses and carriages, lanes for people running. There was a park, a rocky area, a water fountain, a few lakes.

It made the parks in England look like mere gardens!

It was so relaxing to take a casual stroll round, if I lived there I would definitely be there every day in the summer when the weather is nice. 

Somewhere you can go sit relax and have a moment of calmness in the middle of the bustling city life!

Of course with such beautiful backdrops there was a need to take a few selfies.

Definitely a site that I would go back to again and again.

Have you ever been to New York? What did you think of Central Park?

New York: Statue of Liberty and The Brooklyn Bridge

As part of our trip in New York we went on a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty and Under the Brooklyn Bridge. We were originally going to get off at Ellis Island but thankfully we did not and that gave us extra time for other sights.

The boat ride was only 30 dollars and gave you a good view of the shoreline and the sights! We were very fortunate that on the day we went it was sunny and the sky was a clear blue!

I had expected the Statue of Liberty to be bigger than it was but overall it was one of those sights that if you're in New York you have to see.

We were stood at the side of the boat so had a fantastic view.

Sadly we did not stop at Ellis Island and visit the museum or go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, as we were only there for 5 days time was short and we wanted to see as much as we possibly could.

Have you ever seen the Statue of Liberty? What did you think?

Thanks for Reading!!

New York: Ground Zero

While in New York we also visited Ground Zero the site where the twin towers used to stand.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this and hadn't seen any photos of what the memorial looked like. When we got there I was stuck for words, they have made the site where the buildings used to be into one giant water feature with all the victims names carved around the edge.

The day we visited was sunny there wasn't a cloud in the sky, I was struck by how haunting the area felt. Something so serene in the hustle and bustle of the financial district.
It moved me to the point of near tears a feeling I will never forget! I certainly didn't expect to be as affected by the site as I was.

We took a few photos but overall just stared at the memorial, time felt like it had stopped in this one section of the district.

The memorial is such a strong symbol taking something that was such a tragic and horrific event and turning the area into something that is hauntingly beautiful. While at the same time making sure that what happened is not forgotten and that it is a tribute to all those innocent people who were taken far too soon.

It humbled me in a way I didn't expect and made me thankful for all the small things I take for granted.
I was about 8 when 9/11 happened and being so young did not grasp the enormity or reality of what had happened and this out everything into perspective for me.

Have any of you visited the memorial? How did it make you feel?

New York: The Natural History Museum

Another place we visited while in New York was the Natural History Museum. It automatically makes you think of the film Night at the Museum!

We walked to it through central park and the entrance is massive with dinosur skeletons on display. It all looked so grand and elegant and seemed to dwarf some of the museum's in England.

We tried to look at everything go through all the floors, see all the displays. The main attractions for me were the rooms dedicated to Space and of course the dinosaurs. The space rooms I found to be the most interactive with displays you can move and touch. You could also see what your weight would be on for example the moon or a red giant star.

Most of the other displays we saw were dedicated to different types of animals, the detail was absolutely stunning! They all looked so realistic, the craft, time and effort that has gone into every inch of each display is amazing and something you do not see often!

The floor dedicated to the dinosaurs was surreal something you don't see often and you don't realise the scale of these skeletons and how magnificent they look. An ode to a different time!

Below are some of the photos I took it was hard to narrow it down to just a few!

New York: The Empire State Building

 The Empire State Building was at the top of my list of things to see when I visited New York. If not for the countless movies it has been in, for that scene in Gossip Girl where Chuck waits for Blair at the top to declare his love (I'm a big Gossip Girl fan.)

On the first day we were in New York we decided to go to the top of the Empire State at night. It's open till 2am and costs $32.

It wasn't a far walk from our hotel and it was very easy to find from Times Square. I had been feeling unwell from the moment we arrived and I felt I could have gone back to the hotel room for the evening.

As it was the one thing I was determined to see I persevered and forced myself to the top. I am glad that I did as if I had let it get the better of me I would have missed out on some beautiful views.

I would recommend going up the building at night as you get a fantastic view of the city all lit up- it is absolutely stunning! 

There is an outside viewing platform and an inside one, the best photos come from the outside platform- be warned though it is very windy up there!

We tried and tried to get pictures on the outside platform but it was so windy it was practically impossible. This might have been because it was February and particularly colder than later in the year maybe.

This was my favourite sight of the holiday I could have stayed up there looking at the views all evening! 

It started the holiday of with a bit of magic and glamour and I could not think of a better beginning to our New York adventure.

I don't think I really need to say it but if you're heading to New York soon this is a must see.

Thanks for Reading!!

Where I Want to Visit in New York

I am visiting New York next year the one place I have always wanted to visit so I thought I would share with you all the sites I most want to see.

Please Note as I have not been before this will be a very stereotypical list.

Times Square - You can't go to New York and not visit Times Square all those screens and lights it's just so vibrant!

Broadway - We have already booked the tickets to go see this on Broadway and I really can not wait! I'm a massive Disney fan and I love the Theatre so I imagine Broadway will be amazing.