A Guide To Get You Started

I've provided my readers with some recommendations of places to go and things to see. I've also provided some tips and tricks of navigating the city. However, to answer all and any questions my readers may have, I have decided to compile a master list. I've compiled everything into 3 categories: logistics, food & drink, and sightseeing. So here we go, lets get started. 

Plane, Train, Automobile 

Penn Station 

Now for anyone planning a trip, transportation is one of the first things to be sorted out. 

1. Driving (this option is especially appealing to those that live in the Tri-State area, or anyone who can handle a road trip.) 
2. Train (taking a train from your hometown into Penn Stations through Amtrak is a great way to relax while getting to NYC.)
3. Flying (although sometimes a more expensive option, flying into either LaGuardia or JFK Airport is a convenient option. Plus there are low fare airlines that fly into both options.

Accommodations 

The next thing everyone figures out is where they'll be staying. In New York the options are seemingly endless, but finding the hotel that is right for you isn't as hard as it seems. It's important to remember to check websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, and others. (Hint: these can be used for finding cheaper flights too) Some things are important to keep in mind:

• Price (costs can get steep in NYC, so make sure you find a hotel that is in your budget, after all, how much time will you be spending in the room? It might not have to be anything fancy.)
• Reputation (now, while I just said the hotel won't need to be anything spectacular, it is important to find one that won't rip you off or give you bed bugs, so read reviews and don't go with anything sketchy.)
• Location (it's important that your hotel won't be hard to get to, especially if you've been out exploring all day. It might be helpful to get a hotel that is in a central location to parts of the city you might be venturing off to.)

Here are 2 travel planning sites/apps that I always find really useful: 

Jet Setter

TripIt

Getting Around NYC

Now that you've made it, it is especially important to have some sense of direction. Taxi's are always an easy way in case you really have no idea where you're going, but they can get pricy. Uber is also a great way to get around and sometimes cheaper than taxis, I personally like using it at night if I don't want to take the subway. 

The subways may seem complicated, and sometimes they can be. You don't have to memorize every single stop each one makes, but knowing downtown from uptown is always a good start. Luckily for newbies, there are apps that make riding the subways a whole lot easier. 

EmbarkNYC is my personal favorite for finding out which subways to hop on or avoid. My favorite part is that it works offline, so if you've already entered a subway station you can still use it. 

Grabbing A Bite 

This list I'm about to give you could go on and on. I'm going to give a couple options that might work depending on what you're in the mood for. 

The Comfort Diner: Yes, I am recommending a diner, but it's the diner I had been looking for, for a long, long time before I came across this one. It's got the retro look that any old school diner would have and they served me some delicious pancakes at 11pm. There surprisingly aren't many places like this in NYC which is why it made the list. It's located on the corner of 46th and 3rd, so be sure to get over to check it out. 

Black Tap milkshakes 

The Black Tap: This is the place that has received all the buzz for their outrageous milkshakes. So if you're looking to experience something that you might not get back home, go here. They've got the Instagram and Snapchat worthy milkshakes, but they've got great burgers. Their menu is unique with a load of traditional and non-traditional toppings, so if you want the classic burger & milkshake meal amped up to the max, check this place out down in Chelsea. 

Pick A Bagel: New York City is known worldwide for their bagels and you can't leave NYC without trying one. I say to give Pick A Bagel a go, they've got a dozen different types of bagels, and dozens of toppings. Everything from Chocolate Chip cream cheese to a seafood spread can be added on top of a bagel here. The possibilities are endless. If you venture to the Upper West Side, make sure to make a pit stop here. 

The Smith: Brunch in NYC can be just as amazing as it seems on television and in the movies. If you know a good spot and grab a group of friends it's always a good way to spend a Sunday morning. The Smith has a few locations in Manhattan, and their brunch never disappoints whether you choose to go sweet or savory. 

Sights To See 

1. The MOMA, Met, Guggenheim: Especially good for a rainy day, checking out an art museum is something that everyone should do when visiting NYC. Some of the museums throughout the city have pieces that are highly coveted and their changing collections are always extraordinary
2. Central Park, The Boathouse: You have probably seen it on TV or in a movie, but checking out the pond and the boathouse that are often used as film sets is something you should want to do. You can feed turtles and ducks on the pond, and take rent out a rowboat to enjoy a nice, breezy afternoon. The boathouse even has a restaurant built in with outdoor seating that would be a great place to check out. 



Central Park Boathouse 

3. Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty: As a little girl, I always loved taking the ferry to see both of these landmarks, but it's great for people of all ages. Climbing up the steps of the Statue of Liberty might not be for everyone, but seeing it in person is. Plus, I loved looking up my great-grandparents up in the Ellis Island registry to find out more about my heritage, it's a great learning experience for anyone. 

New York is a massive city so I could add so much more to this list. But just to give you an idea of how major of a city it is, here is a video I found that really puts it in perspective. 

I hope this was helpful to some of you who may not know quite where to start if you want to visit New York City. This obviously isn't a full list of everything you can see and go, but it is a beginning to help give you ideas. No matter what you decide to do in NYC, just make sure you have fun above all! 

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

That's right, baseball season is in full swing and lucky for us New Yorkers we have not one, but two MLB teams. Whether you're a Yankees fan or a Mets fan, there is no excuse not to take a trip to see either of them in action. But just in case you aren't familiar to New York baseball, I'll give you a quick run down of both teams so you're no longer missing out.

The New York Yankees:

Yankee Stadium 

Known for their pinstripes, the New York Yankees are not only a staple to New York, but of America. Formally called the Bronx Bombers, Yankee stadium is still found in the borough. Getting to the stadium is as easy as taking the subway up to 161st street.

Citi Field 

The New York Mets:

The bright blue and orange uniforms of the New York Mets call for attention. The rivalry between Met and Yankee fans is most certainly real, but of course all in good fun...mostly. Their home, Citi Field, is located down in Queens. Once again, getting to the field is as easy as taking the subway down to Willets Point.

No matter what team you're rooting for, spending your day at the ballpark is never a bad move. The hotdogs, cheering, fly balls, and home runs are just some of the reasons why Americans are so in love with baseball. So go out and see a game, try to snag a game ball, you won't regret it.

Take A Trip To The Botans

As a Fordham student, I definitely need to give our neighbor, the Bronx Botanical Gardens a shout out. They do supply the university with most of our running water, so they probably deserve their own post.

As someone who loves the outdoors, this is probably one of my favorite spots to visit. During the school year I would often choose to run in the Botanical Gardens and enjoy the scenery. It has a little bit of everything, so it's perfect for people that might have different tastes.

Enid A. Haupt Conservatory 

The Conservatory is a gorgeous green house that holds a vast number of tropical plants. Walking through is an experience, it feels like you're walking though an actual rain forest! There are even Venus Fly Traps you can see in action, it's definitely not everyday you get to see one of those.

Daffodil Hill 

My favorite part of the gardens would have to be Daffodil Hill. It is exactly what it sounds like, a giant hill within the gardens where they have planted Daffodils everywhere. There are so many that walking on the grass isn't even an option. Walking through always feels so magical and brings out the flower child in me.

Bronx River Waterfall

Finally, this gem within the gardens, was one I stumbled upon by accident. The Bronx River waterfall happens to be located in the gardens, something I didn't know until I got lost for an hour or so. To find it you have to delve deeper into the gardens and actually go through the woods. Luckily they have some really nice walking trails weaving through, so it's not a difficult journey.

 Anyone who is interested in seeing a variety of gardens and landmarks should really check out the Bronx Botanical Gardens. If you're a Fordham student, hopefully you've already been or have a trip planned. There are no excuses, it's right across the street!

Shake Shack: The Inside Scoop

Now in numerous posts on this blog I've talked about finding the "hidden gems" of the city and have not spent time talking about the well known spots. Today however, I need to talk about a New York City staple, because yes it is that good.

Shake Shack, a joint known for their burgers and beloved milkshakes, has New Yorkers hooked, myself included. California has In-N-Out, but New York has Shake Shack. They have the speed of a fast food restaurant, but flavor that exceeds fast food expectations.

I'm personally in love with a Shack Burger, keeping it simple with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Shack Sauce. However, burger options can definitely get more exciting than just that with options such as adding bacon or having lettuce replace a traditional bun.

Meal from Shake Shack

Their crinkle cut fries are the perfect addition to any meal. They have the just the right amount of crunch to the outside, and are topped with the perfect amount of salt. My mouth waters just thinking about them!

 Their milkshakes are a whole other ball game. They have traditional flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, half & half, but they get better than that. More unique flavors such as coffee, salted caramel, and even a flavor of the week make appearances on the menu. Right now the flavor of the week is Chocolate- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, which is my personal favorite, so I highly encourage all of you to try it.

Shake Shack Milkshake

Shake Shack may be a chain, but they're a chain that I am a huge fan of, along with nearly every other New Yorker. If you have the opportunity to stop in and try their food, I recommend it, because you won't regret it.

Yes, It Is Possible To Get This Lost

You might be asking how lost one can get in Manhattan. It is pretty easy to get turned around, walk downtown instead of uptown, or hop on the wrong subway. We've all been there. Luckily with the Manhattan Grid, you can get yourself back on track. 

I get a lot of phone calls from friends asking "where am I?", "how do I get here?", etc. However, one phone call from a friend meeting me at my office after work was one I wasn't prepared for. 

I told my friend (the name I'll keep anonymous) to meet me at my office, located on 47th and 2nd. Not a terrible walk from Grand Central, only about 10 minutes. Now my friend is from Poughkeepsie, but has only been to the city a handful of times. She's familiar with the Metro-North, but only going home, not to Manhattan. I tell her she needs to be on Track 4 at the Fordham station and ready to take the 4:35. It would get her into Grand Central around 5 and she would walk the rest of the way to where I was. 

However, this could only go so smoothly with someone who is so unfamiliar with the city. I shared my location on my iPhone so she could get directions to my exact spot, making it easier on her. 

But no, I got a phone call that started with, "how do I get out of Grand Central, like how do I exit the building?" I was so thrown off by the question, but I did the best I could to talk her through it. Finally I just said, "find a door, walk out and text me what street you end up on." I couldn't verbally tell her how to exit the building and I was getting frustrated trying to do so. 

Eventually my friend found my office and we enjoyed the evening we had planned, but let me tell ya, I didn't know it would be that much of a struggle for her to get to me. From now on I meet her at a better location, but she proved to me it is possible to get that lost. 

A Rundown: The 5 Boroughs

Anyone visiting New York City should be familiar with the 5 boroughs. For anyone who has no idea what I am referring to, a borough can be defined as:

"one of the 5 administrative units of New York City".  

These boroughs are all different neighborhoods that make up the entirety of New York City. Now since it can be extremely helpful to understand each borough, I figured I would provide a bit of information about each one, so no one is blindly trying to figure it out for themselves.

Map of the 5 Boroughs 

The Bronx: The northern most borough, it is home to plenty of famous attractions such as The Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium and The Botanical Gardens. It is also home to Fordham University's Rose Hill Campus, which is so pretty it should be an attraction itself (but I might be biased). 

Queens: Home to Citi Field, baseball fans can come here to watch The Mets play at home. Foodies will also be happy because this borough is full of opportunities to try different cultures' native foods. 

Manhattan: The most well known borough when someone thinks of New York City. Visiting there means you can check out the famous Times Square or see a play on Broadway. However, this borough always has a surprise around the corner. 

Brooklyn: This borough is just as hip as it i depicted on TV, but everyone should experience it for themselves in person. It is the perfect place to find impromptu concerts. But if you're going for something that is in the headlines, The Brooklyn Nets can be seen playing at home. 

Staten Island: Many don't realize, but this borough is just a ferry ride away, and a free one too! It's the perfect spot for families to come for activities of all ages. Plus, the architecture and local gardens are definitely worth making the trip for. 

Hopefully, this helps give you a better idea of what each borough has to offer and can give you an idea of which ones you might want to check out the most. These descriptions are just the tip of the iceberg, so I encourage you to do some more research once you start narrowing down your options! 

How To: Find The Perfect Lunch Spot

One of the first things I do when I get to work in the morning is start thinking about what I'm in the mood for at lunch. Yes, I know, thinking about lunch isn't exactly what I should be working on, but it is an important part of my day!

Here, I will show you step by step how I narrow down my lunch options to find the perfect spot each day- because yes, it changes daily.

Step 1: Make Google Maps your friend... 



Above is what appears based on my location: New York, New York. I have not typed anything in yet- just gone to maps.google.com on my internet browser. 

Step 2: Get Searching! 



Type in "lunch spots near me" into the search bar. You can of course change "lunch" to anything of your choosing, maybe "breakfast" or "dinner" based on what you want. The map automatically zooms in on an area near me, and restaurants automatically pop up.  

Step 3: Do Some Snooping...



Google provides details on each restaurant in your area- so be sure to take the time to check out photos and reviews! 

Google is a great tool that many people might overlook when searching for a bite to eat. However, Google keeps it clean and simple, making your search for the best place to grab a meal as easy as possible!

New York City From Another Perspective

One blogger that I absolutely look up to is Tracy, the woman behind Tracy's New York Life. She focuses her blog around her lifestyle as a New Yorker and the culture within this great city. I recently read Tracy's post, Preserving New York City's Mom-and-Pop Shops and had some thoughts of my own on the topic.

Italian Shop, Tracy's New York Life 

Part of why I fell in love with this city was the culture, which included independent stores and hole-in-the-wall shops. These types of businesses provided something more than the branded chains that we all hear about everyday. Mom-and-Pop shops make New York unique and not just any other metropolis.

Record Store, Tracy's New York Life 

Tracy touches on how shops like the ones seen above (check out Tracy's blog post for more photos), are becoming rarer and rarer. She also got James and Karla Murray, two authors and photographers, involved for this post. Together, the 3 of them tell stories about a selection of Mom-and-Pop shops, interviewing the owners, usually 3rd or 4th generation.

I really like how Tracy included the quotes from the shop owners, I think that putting a story behind these unique stores reminds everyone of what makes New York City the city it is today. Stores like these have history that run deep within New York City, and it is these stores that have shaped the culture that we all know and love. I think everyone should make an effort to try to preserve these Mom-and-Pop shops rather than be so quick to replace them with larger known brands.

Interviewing a New York Native

This past week I decided to include a post that didn't just have my point of view regarding NYC. To tackle this, I was able to get an interview with Kirsten Dolan, a business owner that lived in New York City for over 30 years. She recently moved to Florida for work purposes, but had a lot of good insight into New York that she could share with me.

When did you first move to NYC and why?

I first moved to NYC directly out of college for a job offer.

What were your first impressions of the city?

I was pretty amazed with New York as a whole, I grew up in a rural setting, so the city excited me. It took some time to get used to the lifestyle changes, but I really enjoyed what NYC had to offer.

What were your favorite aspects to living in NYC?

I would have to say the way I could pretty much walk to anywhere I needed to go. I no longer needed to take a car ride to pick something up at the pharmacy or go grocery shopping- speaking of that I really loved the shopping, my bank account would disagree... but anyway. Being able to commute to work or outside functions from my downtown apartment was a luxury I wasn't used to, and heavily relied on once I moved to NYC.

And your least favorite?

Probably the cleanliness, or lack thereof. I'm a bit of a clean freak or germaphobe, so having garbage bags piled up on the sidewalks really wasn't something I enjoyed. Also I definitely could have lived without seeing the occasional rat run down the sidewalk or subway track. I was able to learn to tolerate it though, but I don't miss those things one bit.

Do you have any advice to someone visiting NYC or moving here for the first time?

I would say to remember that it may take time to adjust to new environment. NYC has a completely different pace than those of other cities, the people here move way faster. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to adjust quickly, or else you'll just get overwhelmed. Also, as over rated as they may seem to some people, check out the "touristy" spots. The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grand Central... they're all things that a person should see if they get the chance. But going off of that, you don't have to do it all in one day, take your time so you can really enjoy it and cross if off your bucket list.

Kirsten had some really great points about NYC, that many of us can relate with. I think she also gave great advice to those who visit or move to NYC for the first time- so keep what she said in mind!

Reason 1 Just Got Better

The first reason I gave for loving New York City was the vast amount of neighborhoods to choose from. In my post, 5 Reasons To Love Living In New York City, I descried how the cultures of each neighborhood vary, and that there is one that would be a perfect fit for anyone. Recently, I have come across new information about the culture of New York City neighborhoods, and what makes each one so unique.

When Europeans were traveling to the United States, their first stop was Ellis Island. Because this was the first stop, many nationalities stuck together and moved to different parts of New York City. By sticking together, people from the same region thus created communities, which can still be found throughout the city today.

For example, Greenpoint, a neighborhood in Brooklyn is known as "Little Poland" becuase many inhabitants come from Polish ancestry. Even many of the restaurants within Greenpoint specialize in and serve Polish comfort food.

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Another example would be Woodlawn, located in the Bronx. Originally, it used to be a mostly German neighborhood, but over the years it has evolved into a well know Irish area. When passing through, you can find the streets lined with authentic Irish bars and restaurants. 

Having such heritage in neighborhoods is part of what gives them personality. Having such tight knit communities makes it easier to find one that is right for you, which only makes me love living in New York City more! 

So Back To Those Statistics

A little while ago, I was researching the internet for tourism statistics relevant to New York City specifically. You'll recall, that I actually had to fill in the statistics table from the Wikipedia page I was referencing.

My post regarding the changes I made can be found here.

Today, I decided to go back to that Wikipedia page to see if anyone had taken away or made changes to my edit of the table. The table appeared to be untouched, which left me reassured that anyone looking at the page had the most updated information.

City Fever

There is so much going on in New York City, sometimes it can be overwhelming. With the vast selection of places to go and activities to enjoy, you would think making plans would be easy. However, it can be just the opposite. Given so many choices, it is often harder than it seems to figure out what to do when hanging out with friends. 

Luckily, there's an app for that. Fever has been my saving grace when my mind goes blank. It's an app that every New Yorker needs to survive weekends and hear about underground events that might not receive as much attention as others. 

Fever 

The app allows you to choose the city you're located in, though it's most popular is Manhattan, and it curates events that are going on during the week. It shows everything from concerts, to rooftop bars, and clubs. Often times as well, by using the app, cover charges for clubs and bars will be free, or you can even get a free drink from a bar. 

Fever has become mine, and my friends', go to app to make plans when we're struggling to come up with our own. It is definitely an app every New Yorker, or visitor, needs on their phone to have the best night out. 

Download it here on the iTunes store.  

New York City Skyline: A Time Lapse

In my last post, I showed how the skyline in Times Square has specifically changed over the course of 100 years. In the below video, you can see how the skyline for a broader view of Manhattan has changed.

This video was taken from the inside of an elevator at 1 World Trade Center. The animated clip recreates the development that has occurred to the New York City skyline, beginning at the 1500's. You can see that the whole of Manhattan, not just Times Square, has made immense progress. Videos like this are always a good reminder that Manhattan has not always been the "City That Never Sleeps". Watching this time lapse is a good way to put such progress into perspective. 

Times Square: A Tale of Two Photos

Times Square is one of New York City's most visited spots. Today, we see Times Square as the hustling and bustling area full of shops, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities.

Times Square, 2015

As you can see, in the present day, Times Square is full of skyscrapers covered in bright, colorful billboards. Shown in the photo above, there isn't much space left, as any empty real estate has been built on. Because of all the exciting development, it has become a huge tourist attraction and a must see when visiting New York City. 

However, Times Square hasn't always been this way. 

Times Square, 1904

This photo dates back to when the New York Times Tower was first built, which gave Times Square it's name. Comparing these two photos can show just how much progress has taken place in 100 years. The area has gone from an emerging business district to a place flocked to by over 300,000 people daily. I find it remarkable how the two photos differ so drastically. However, despite the many differences, the New York Times Tower continues to be the focal point of Times Square.

Packing Right

One of the most important parts of taking any trip is packing. It can get a bit tricky, especially if you're one to over or under pack. To help make life a little easier, I've compiled a list of the essentials you need when traveling to New York City.

• Comfortable Shoes (Many don't realize how much they'll be walking, especially in Manhattan. Definitely keep comfort in mind over style or you could end up with some nasty blisters.)
• Layers (Even if you are traveling in the Summer, layers are still a necessity in NYC, you never know when the weather could get chilly or rainy.)
• Bag that Zips (In addition to your suitcase, you'll definitely need some sort of bag that zips close. This allows you to carry any small items you may need throughout the day, while keeping your stuff protected.)
• Electronic Accessories (It may be obvious that you'll need to pack all the chargers that go to your electronics, but it is also a good idea to keep a phone charger in your day to day bag for emergencies while you're out exploring.)
• Pack Light (You'll most likely do some shopping for souvenirs once you get to NYC, so it's important to remember this before you leave. Make sure to leave some room in your suitcase, so you don't have to jam everything in when you get ready to go back home.)

This is just the tip of iceberg when packing, but these things are certainly considered necessities. It's also important to remember that things like toiletries can be purchased upon arrival, as well as anything that has been forgotten at home.

Subway Surges

Anyone who has tried to take the NYC subway recently, especially at peak times, has experience the struggle I am about to touch on.

As the population of New York City rises, it only makes sense that subway usage would increase. Well it has, and to be honest, I'm not happy about it. Now I'm surely not the only one that has this opinion, but I figured I would share my thoughts on the topic.

To start, commuting at times when everyone is trying to get to work has become nearly impossible. The subways have become so crowded that I, and many others, have to wait for 2 or 3 trains to pass by before getting on one that actually has room. Once I get on a train, there are obviously no seats left, and I am forced to stand crowding up against others.

Overcrowding is now causing massive delays, which is probably what I have the biggest problem with. One of the reasons I love living in New York so much is that I can get where I'm going with ease. However, these delays are making me late, and I'm not going to lie, I can get pretty impatient.

New York City has allocated $14.2 billion dollars to improve the subway system, but in my opinion, I don't think that is enough. Spending money on new railways and cars won't totally solve the problem. I think that New York City needs to revamp the entire system to handle the new load. To me, it would make sense to adapt the schedules to be able alleviate some of the crowding that occurs.

I'm no expert on New York City's transit system, but it just seems to me that they'll need to really invest, not only money, but a lot of time to solve this problem and New York back on track.

Setting the Statistics Straight

We all have our opinions of whether or not Wikipedia is a trustworthy source of information. However, it continues to be a source of information for people around the world.

While browsing the Tourism in New York City Wikipedia page, I noticed they had a chart that was not up-to-date, nor entirely accurate compared to what NYC & Company officially reported. Each year NYC & Company releases updated tourism statistics showing how they have changed year to year, but this Wikipedia page was not kept up-to-date.

I went ahead and completed the chart, as well as made corrections, eliminating the discrepancies between the two sources.

Hopefully now that the chart has been updated more people can benefit from the page, especially the now correct statistics, and Wikipedia can be seen as more of a reliable source than before. 

Here, find the link to NYC & Company's report that I based my changes off of:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2012/nyc_economic_impact_charts_through_2015.pdf

Also, here is the link to the Wikipedia page mentioned above:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_New_York_City

El Rio Grande, Tex-Mex Done Right

El Rio Grande, a Tex- Mex restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, is a restaurant that everyone needs to try out. Located at 38th and 3rd, conveniently close to my office, it has become a lunch and dinner spot that professionals and locals flock to.

Upon my first glance at the restaurant, I noticed their plentiful outdoor seating. It was 80 degrees and sunny, so my coworkers and I took advantage of the patio. Now although it is located off 3rd Ave, the outdoor seating is tucked away, so much so that I didn't even notice the bustling traffic. 

It was my first time at El Rio Grande, but my coworkers were regulars. El Rio Grande hands down has some of the best steak nachos in the city. Each nacho is individually crafted to ensure the toppings are evenly distributed and that you get the perfect bite each time. We ordered them for the entire table to share, but honestly, we could have each eaten full portions on our own.

Steak Nachos, El Rio Grande 

For my entree I tried the Ensalada de Pollo. Full of fresh ingredients like avocado, pico de gallo, and grilled chicken, this salad is definitely one of my favorites. By ordering this, I was able to enjoy staying healthy but still getting that Mexican flare that I love.

If you enjoy authentic Tex-Mex and are in the area, El Rio Grande is the place to go, you won't leave disappointed. 

5 Reasons to Love Living in New York City

Moving to New York City just over 2 years ago was probably the best decision I could have ever made. In fact, I was so determined to move to Manhattan, I only applied to colleges that were commutable to and from the city.

Living in New York City has lived up to and exceeded the expectations I had before moving. Here are some of  the reasons I find living in the city to be so amazing.

1. The Neighborhoods
With 5 boroughs to choose from, there is something for everyone. But even within each borough, the vast number of neighborhoods offer completely different options. Each neighborhood has a distinct personality and flavor. For example, living in Astoria would offer a completely different experience than living in Brooklyn Heights. That's the beauty of it though, depending on specific tastes and preferences, you can find a neighborhood that would suit you. 

2. Public Transit or Walking

New York City has easily accessible public transit options, including the subway, bus routes, taxis, and even the Metro North. These options make it easy to get from one place to the next in the shortest amount of time possible.

But even better than that, walking might even be a better way to get around the city and to where you need to go. This way, you get in exercise and aren't stuck in traffic or affected by any bothersome transit delays. 

3. Diversity

I will run into different types of people every time I step outside. To me, it is amazing to see people with such different backgrounds all come together to live in one city. Meeting many different types of people opened by eyes up to new and exciting cultures, and truly put life into perspective, which I might not have been able to experience had I moved anywhere else. When people say that the United States is the melting pot, New York City and its residents really do make that statement true. 

4. Culture

Whether it is the hundreds of restaurants or the dozens of museums, New York City is full of culture. Right outside my door I can experience something new through the arts, food, sports, etc. No day in Manhattan is the same as the day before. Each time I try a new spot for lunch or see a performance at Lincoln Center, I come across something totally new and exciting. 

5. Career Opportunities

As a college student, career opportunities are definitely something I have to think about and keep in the back of my mind. New York City is an ideal place to jump start a career, especially for a business student like myself. Its a place where I can work for a firm that has been around for decades, try out a job at a boutique company, or even work to jump start my business. New York City is full of opportunities, no matter what field someone is looking to get into. 

These are just 5 of  the reasons I find living in New York City an amazing opportunity, The list goes on and on, but I felt these were the ones worth mentioning the most. 

New York City Tourism

New York City is known as being one of the biggest tourism destinations in the world, but how many people flock to the place that myself, and millions of others, call home? 

To be exact, 58.7 million people visited New York City in 2015 alone, and that number was expected to increase to 59.7 for 2016. Tourism is a huge part of New York City's economy. These visitors generated $61.3 billion in revenue and helped to support 359,000 jobs related to the tourism industry.

But what draws people from all over the world to New York City? According to NYC Go, New York City's official tourism guide, these are the top 10 attractions tourists check out:

1. The Skyline via One World Observatory
2. Times Square 
3. Broadway
4. Central Park 
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
6. The Museum of Modern Art
7. Rockefeller Center
8. Statue of Liberty Monument
9. Macys Herald Square
10. Yankee Stadium 

Of course, there is so much more to see beyond this list, but those are the attractions people make a point to see when visiting New York City. Definitely be sure to check out as many as possible on your next visit!

A Summer in Manhattan

Hey everyone, my name is Miranda and I am coming up into my Junior year at Fordham University. Fordham has campuses both in Manhattan and the Bronx, so I will be spending my entire summer in New York City. I will not only be taking classes, but also working full time, but that doesn't mean I won't have time to enjoy the city and have a good time!

I am so excited for what New York will have in store for, not only my self, but my friends as well. Spending an entire summer in New York City means that I will have plenty of opportunities to explore.

I plan on sharing with all of you what I find to be the very best things to do or see in the city during the warmer months, especially things that will stay on budget for students and young professionals. There is plenty to do in the city to have fun without having to break the bank! 

I look forward to being able to give all of you an idea of what New York has to offer for summer fun, I hope you enjoy!