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For this Wanderlust Wednesday, I’m throwing it back to November 2018 and my solo trip to New York City.
The architecture, the mood, the food, the fashion, even the people, were chef’s kiss. It wasn’t overly crowded, which meant I could wander the city with my camera without constantly bumping into people. Oddly enough, I felt safer walking around NYC at night than I do in Atlanta. And yes, before anyone asks, I took all the appropriate safety precautions.
The night before my flight, the city received some snowfall that caused some delays, but I didn’t care. The summer and fall of 2018 had been challenging between work and family responsibilities, and a few days in New York felt exactly what I needed.
Brooklyn Bridge
I stayed at the Millennium Downtown New York Hotel, now known as the M Social Hotel New York Downtown. Located near the 9/11 Memorial and the Hudson River, the hotel offered incredible views of the city and a perfect home base for exploring Lower Manhattan. And for my fellow goth and history lovers, it's also next door to St. Paul’s Chapel and its historic graveyard. Much like my trip to Edinburgh years later, I found myself wandering among old stones and stories.
The Financial District made it easy to explore on foot. I walked through SoHo, Greenwich Village, and DUMBO, spent time shopping, and enjoyed dinner at Del Frisco’s Grille at Brookfield Place. If Eataly is still as good as I remember, it’s absolutely worth a visit for anyone who loves food.
St. Paul’s Chapel
One quick tip: if you plan to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, give yourself plenty of time. The crossing itself takes about 30 minutes, but with tourists stopping for photos every few feet, it can take much longer. I love a good photograph as much as the next person, but not enough to pose on the parapets. I’ll leave that to Violet and her crew (Fourth Wing reference for those that don’t know, LOL).
Looking back, it remains one of my favorite solo trips and one of the cities that continues to inspire me creatively. New York has a way of leaving its mark on you, and judging by how often I find myself browsing hotel websites, I think it may be time for another visit.
Stone Street, NYC