Archives for March 2013

10 Places that Will Make You Fall in Love with NYC This Spring

March 21, 2013 By Guest Blogger

Springtime in New York City is full of life. The temperatures are rising, the flowers are starting to bloom and people are starting to shed layers and move around comfortably. This is one of the greatest times to visit the city as there’s so much to see and do whether you’re a nature lover, sports fan or just a tourist who doesn’t want the hassle of mittens that hinder your photo-taking abilities. Everyone has their own list of reasons to love New York, but many people can’t deny the fact that these 10 places are dear to them in the spring.

Central Park – Over 843 acres of New York City that isn’t concrete and taxis is very enjoyable on a nice, spring day in the Big Apple. Take a romantic stroll through the shaded paths or on a horse-drawn carriage ride, take the kids on the carousel or take a run or bike ride through the park. It’s one of the best places in the city to exercise without having to fear getting hit by a car afterall!

Top of the Rock – Springtime in NYC is best seen from above, and there’s no better view of the newly sprouting greenery and blooming buds than from the Top of the Rock. This is one of the best views you’ll find in the entire city of Central Park, the Empire State Building and the New York skyline, so be sure to bring your camera to capture the moment.

Yankees Stadium – Well okay, maybe not. The Yankees are not the most beloved baseball team in America, but they represent New York, and going to a game is actually a lot of fun. Luckily you’re always allowed to root for the other team even when you’re at a home game, so grab a hot dog and a beer and enjoy the moment! You can always head to Queens to cheer on the Mets too.

Yankee Stadium-NYC — Photo Credit: Flickr user Mafue

Union Square – Every Saturday morning, New Yorkers trade in their morning purchases at Starbucks and Walgreens for some local produce, fresh flowers and homemade goods at the Union Square Green Market. Union Square is bustling with interesting things (and people) to see and do this time of year, so after you hit the market, explore the rest of the neighborhood.

5th Avenue – New York City is one of the top destinations in America for St. Patrick’s Day, and every year, one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world heads down Fifth Avenue. Paint the town green this March and steal a few kisses before heading to the bar for some green beer and Irish music.

Macy’s Herald Square – Every year at the Corner of Broadway and 34th for about a month in Spring, the Macy’s Flower Show takes over the first floor of the iconic flagship department store. Stroll through the gardens, take in all the beautiful colors and breath in the blissful smells of real flowers, rather than the perfumes for once.

Midtown Manhattan – When you come to New York City for Easter, enjoy the service or maybe just the beauty of the historic churches in Midtown Manhattan. Famous churches like St. Peter’s Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Thomas Church are all perfect places to celebrate Easter, and they’re all close to the NYC Easter Parade!

TriBeCa – Tickets for opening night at the TriBeCa Film Festival are available to everyone. This is the time of year when the stars gather in New York City, so be prepared – you may bump into your favorite celebrity on the way to check out some of the newest independent films.

Rooftop Bars – Many of the rooftop bars have added windows and roofs to stay open year round, but as things start to heat up during the day, all of the rest start to open and the crisp, spring air pairs nicely with a martini or a local craft beer in a glamorous setting. The views from these NYC rooftop bars aren’t half bad either…

Patios for Brunch – Things were chilly this winter, so the patios at many restaurants weren’t very enjoyable. Luckily when the sun startings warming us up, we can head to some of the best brunch spots in NYC for a delicious meal to warm our soul on the patio. A few delicious brunches includes the Cafe Orlin, Rose Water Restaurant, Le Barricou and the LIC Market.

Once the holidays are over, people look to forward to spring for months! Warmer temperature, nature reborn and the hustle and bustle of the NYC life returns, and you’re going to want to be here.

Author: This post was written by Lizz Riggs, editor of NYCTourist.com, a travel site dedicated things to do, deals and hotels in NYC.

A Dream or is it Just a Night in Barcelona?

March 15, 2013 By Jillian

Groggily stepping off the plane in the middle of the night, I was shocked to find Barcelona awake. So awake in fact that when I checked in to my accommodations, the desk clerk asked me if I wanted to have my luggage stored behind the desk until I came back from dinner. Where am I? I thought as I checked my cell phone and saw that it was already well into the next day. Needless to say, I never forgo a local travel tip and I headed out with my travel partners.

If you’ve never been out in Barcelona you need to be prepared for the joie de vivre that is Barcelona at night. Every café we went to was packed, literally to the brim with people that seemed to be enjoying a happy hour like atmosphere at midnight. Musicians strolled the boulevards, stopping at tables of unsuspecting tourists and lovers, serenading the entire café with music before moving off into the darkness to the next café. A large extended family sat next to us at a café, their joy and laughter was infectious and even with my very limited Spanish and even less Catalan we soon found ourselves sharing mystery liquor from a clear bottle. I was exhausted and yet enthralled by the scene. It was like a dream you never wanted to wake up from.

Like dreams, there are some places and some experiences that you just can’t recreate. The next time I search out the dream hopefully it will be from the interior of one of the terrific Barcelona apartments dotted across the city. That way when I wake up and look out across the city, I’ll still feel like I’m in a dream.

Photo Credit: Flickr user dweekly via a creative commons license.

Five Places to Re-visit in Europe

March 13, 2013 By Lauren

I’ve been traveling for ten years, and the number one question I get is “Where’s your favorite place?”

My answer differs depending on my mood. Some days, it’s the Galapagos. Others, it’s Cambodia or Australia.

But quite frankly, Europe will always have my heart.

These days, I hear more about Southeast Asia and South America as backpacker destinations, and it’s true that these regions are much easier on the budget. Although Europe costs a little bit more, it is still a traveler’s dream.

Because of Europe’s many options, you can tailor your trip to suit your budget and time frame. You can travel by bus, train, budget airline, and even ferry. You can sleep in bare bones hostels, fancy hotels, or seek out a vacation apartment through Go with Oh. You can eat at markets, sidewalk cafés, upscale restaurants, or shop at supermarkets.

I can’t pick my favorite European cities, but I can tell you about five places I’d definitely go back to. They’re not off the beaten track. They might get crowded. You might not agree with me. But they’ve still got that European magic.

5. Croatia

I can’t say enough about how gorgeous Croatia is, only that I could have stayed much longer than the eight days I spent there, sailing down the coast. The white cities feel ancient and powerful, and the coastline is craggy with clear, salty water.

4. Greece

Mykonos, Greece — Wouldn’t mind seeing this again.

I went to two places in Greece: Athens and Mykonos. Somehow I suspect that there’s more to it than a famous capital city and an overrated party island. If I ever get back, I’m heading for the volcanic island of Santorini. And I’m eating way more Greek food. And not drinking any ouzo, because it tastes gross.

3. Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey — Next time, I’d go inside instead of being too lazy.

Five days in Turkey, regrettably, is not enough. You could easily spend 5 days in Istanbul alone, let alone tackling the rest of the enormous country. I’m tempted by the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the Mediterranean coast.

2. Berlin

Berlin, Germany — Regrettably, this is the only photo I could find from my trip to Berlin.

I would happily return to all of Germany, but Berlin really knocked my socks off. I wasn’t expecting it to, but it did. It was one of the first times that I felt history come to life – all that we’d learned about WWII in high school suddenly seemed shockingly relevant, from the remains of the Berlin wall to walking gingerly through Sachsenhausen, a Nazi work camp.

1. Paris

Sacre Coeur, Paris — The Sacre Coeur in Paris.

Many people don’t like Paris. That’s okay. I get it.

Okay, I don’t get it. It’s PARIS. The city of love. The city of lights. The Eiffel tower, crepes, baguettes, the Seine. I’ll love Paris until the day I die, all based on my first trip abroad when I was 12. That’s when I learned that the French language was more than just 7th grade French class – it was a door opener to a whole new foreign culture.

What do you think – agree or disagree with my choices?

What European cities most appeal to you?

Eat Your Heart Out in Cyprus

March 1, 2013 By Jillian

When visiting the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, there are a few foods you won’t want to miss. While Greek influence is strong, Cypriot cuisine has a unique spin on some of the more typical Greek dishes.

Souvlaki is a favorite “fast food” on the island of Cyprus. Skewered lean meat, usually lamb, pork or chicken, is tucked inside a wrap of Cypriot pita bread. Lemon juice, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and onion are some of the accompanying condiments. White cabbage and green chili peppers are other common additions, as well as tzatziki dip made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and spices. In addition to the regular souvlaki, you can also get it “mixed” with sheftalia, a kind of spiced and minced pork sausage. You might see either version being served street side or as a to-go food from neighborhood restaurants. Don’t miss it!

If it’s vegetables you prefer, Cyprus is known for its fresh vegetables including asparagus, artichokes, and elongated Cypriot potatoes. Many meals are complemented with a fresh village salad made from cucumbers, peppers, black olives, onions and tomatoes. It’s often tossed with local olive oil and feta cheese. While this may sound typically Mediterranean, in Cyprus fresh coriander is usually sprinkled on the salad giving it that extra Cypriot touch.

Cyprus also has plenty of delicious desserts that you can’t miss, even if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth! It’s worthwhile checking out flights to Cyprus when your sweet tooth strikes for some fresh Cypriot baklava. Baklava is a sweet concoction of finely chopped nuts, usually walnuts and almonds, combined with sugar, cinnamon, honey and lemon juice and wrapped in paper-thin layers of filo pastry. This syrupy nut and cinnamon mixture is a common basis for Cypriot desserts, similarly featured in daktila, a kind of finger shaped pastry.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Geoff Peters 604

10 Places that Will Make You Fall in Love with NYC This Spring

A Dream or is it Just a Night in Barcelona?

Five Places to Re-visit in Europe

Eat Your Heart Out in Cyprus

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