My June trip to New York City is fast approaching – arghhh! – and in the midst of revision for my last exam I’ve been taking breaks to do some travel planning. There’s some obvious tourist-y places I know I have to go to (i.e. Times Square, Natural History Museum, Fifth Avenue shopping lol) but there are also a few smaller and little known places I’m really keen on visiting too!
Check out my top 5 hidden gem hotspots I’ll be hoping to tick off my bucket list whilst I’m in the Big Apple…
A 2.5 acre stretch of Central Park, Strawberry Fields is a designated section of peace in the bustling city dedicated to John Lennon. The site is probably known best for the memorial mosaic centred around the word “Imagine” which attracts visitors from around the world who come to pay tribute not only to the late Beatles legend, but to think and pay homage to the lives lost in conflict all around the world. With New York being such a hectic and fast paced city, I can imagine spending some time in such a quiet and thoughtful place would be pretty good for the soul.
Hidden behind a pretty stunning exterior, the Met is a Mecca for art lovers and historians with over 2 millions works under its roof. There are permanent exhibitions with collections of artifacts all the way back to Ancient Egypt to Modern Day Europe. The main attraction for me on this visit will be the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibition, showcasing the designer’s artistic process and dramatic archival pieces. I’ve already seen a slew of fantastically positive reviews of it, so I’m keen to see the whole thing for myself!
An elevated parkland in the midst of downtown Manhattan, the High Line is a fairly new attraction in the City. Nicknamed the ‘park in the sky’, the mile long stretch of public park built along what was a disused historic freight route is now one of the must-visit places in New York. Not only is it a historical site, it now houses beautiful flowers along the route, impressive architectural structures and unique views across the City. For me it’d be rude not to take advantage of what will, hopefully, be a sunny Summer day and meander down the platform for an afternoon.
Linked with the High Line, Chelsea Markets could almost be described as the Covent Garden of New York City. Right in the heart of the Meatpacking District is the indoor marketplace which is a haven for foodies. You only need to look at their Instagram to see the mouthwatering selection on offer and I can imagine this will be a frequent stop during my time in the City – gimme all the food ok! Plus I spy Anthropologie on the map too and with exchange rates, hey, may as well pop in to see if I can pick up something cute too ;)
Who goes to the library on their holidays?…in all seriousness have you guys seen photos of the New York Public Library, it’s breathtaking. Eagle eyed Gossip Girl fans will recognise the steps as a frequent filming location for the series, and it was also the backdrop for such films as Ghostbusters, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sex in the City. And of course, there are the books. Rows and rows of them lining the walls underneath arched windows. *le sigh* so beautiful!