Having lived in Orlando for four years now, I've met people from all over the world, many who have traveled extensively. Time and time again people have been surprised when I've confessed that I've never been to New York City. "But you're an American," they said, confused. "You need to go!" "You're right," I always tell them. "I'm dying to go. But there's so much I want to do there, I'm overwhelmed!"
The Big Apple is known for being a melting pot full of diverse languages, cultures and foods. I also love the city for its place in so much of our pop culture. My favorite way to unwind is a glass of wine and a classic movie, like the "Seven Year Itch" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or reruns of "Gossip Girl" or "Sex and the City." It's always been a dream of mine to visit the city of my style icons, Holly, Charlotte and Blair.
So without further ado, here is an abridged #NYCBucketList of the definitely cliche but still fabulous adventures this small town Southern girl would love to have in the big city!
1. See Times Square at night
2. Eat a danish in front of Tiffany's like Audrey Hepburn did during the shooting of "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
3. Take a walking food tour
4. Visit Ground Zero
5. Shop on 5th Avenue
6. Read a book in the New York Public Library
7. Stroll around Central Park
8. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
9. Visit the Garment District and buy fabric from Mood
10. Eat New York pizza, a hot dog, a bagel, authentic Chinese and pastry
11. Visit the Stonewall Memorial
12. Eat yogurt on the steps of the Met like Blair and Serena, wearing a headband, of course
13. See a Broadway show
14. See a NYC ballet performance
15. Take a tour of graffiti and street art
16. Visit the Statue of Liberty
17. Buy a book from Strand Bookstore
18. Hail a taxi
19. Ride the subway from Grand Central Station
20. Go to the top of the Empire State Building
21. Eat lunch in a hole-in-the-wall cute cafe
22. Have tea in the Plaza
23. Have a drink in the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis
24. See the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall
25. Tour at least one museum
26. Visit at least one NYC church
27. Enjoy a stroll around Little Italy and Chinatown
28. Visit a Jewish deli and enjoy matzo ball soup and latkes
29. Spot a celebrity in Chelsea
30. Witness a photo shoot or movie set
31. Visit 52nd and Lexington, where the famous white-dress-over-the-subway-grate scene of Marilyn Monroe was filmed (though not used) for "The Seven Year Itch"
32. Spot the real life bar in Chelsea that inspired "Coyote Ugly"
33. Catch of glimpse of anything at all filmed in "Gossip Girl" and/or "Sex and the City"
I'm traveling to NYC the very weekend that I'm writing this article. Stay tuned to see what I got to see, eat and experience during my whirlwind weekend to the city that never sleeps. Happy adventuring!
