If you know me well as a fellow Cornellian, you know how obsessed I am with New York, and specifically NYC. I have a New York state of mind and I’m a New Yorker at heart. When it comes down to deciding where to go for Spring Break, I can’t fathom choosing anywhere else over the beautiful city of New York (although I do know Miami is also quite popular). So for all of you making the right choice and going to the city for Spring Break, here is my list of top attractions:
1. Stroll down the South Street Sea Port
This tops the list as one of my favorite places to visit on almost any given day. Situated right off the East River, it is stellar for shopping, dining and just enjoying the wonderful view of the river and the Brooklyn Bridge. As a child, I would spend hours visiting the street shops on the port, and I have made some of my best memories there.
2. Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Otherwise known as MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art is one of the best places to visit in NYC. Complete with amazing exhibits and dining options, exploring the MOMA is one of the best ways to spend a bright Sunday. Let your inner artist shine. Here’s a bonus, free admission from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Fridays.
3. Go to a Broadway Show
One of the best things to do in NYC is watch one of the many new and fantastic Broadway shows in Times Square. Some of my favorites include Hamilton, Les Miserables and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Spend a Sunday touring Times Square and then go to a Broadway show afterwards.
4. Get Brunch
What’s different about brunch in NYC? Everything. In the spring, it’s especially pleasing to walk to one of the many brunch places around the city and enjoy some of the best meals around. Once you have brunch in NYC once, you’ll never turn back.
5. Walk around and explore your surroundings
Your time in NYC is sometimes best enjoyed by just strolling around and enjoying the bustling scenery. Explore some of the greatest shops in the area and relax in the many parks around (especially Central Park – see below). You can have the most fun when you take in the many things happening around you, even within a couple of blocks. Go explore and see where your surroundings will take you – in NYC, I assure you that they will take you far.
6. Central Park (need I say more?)
My favorite place to walk around, relax and blend in with the scenery. Alive with activities open for everyone to participate in, you are bound to enjoy a day in the park. It is complete with a zoo, The Great Lawn, biking and running paths and much more. Bring your picnic basket, and you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
Whether you’re relaxing or doing something more interactive for Spring Break, New York City has it all. While it will be quite a change from beautiful, rural Ithaca, it will definitely be an experience you will want to live over and over again. As Taylor Swift would say, “Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you.”
Ashley Radparvar is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a music enthusiast, a self-proclaimed winter weather aficionado and an SNL devotee. In her spare time, she can be found on the slope, enjoying the wonderful views Ithaca has to offer. Putting It Into Focus appears on alternate Thursdays this semester. She can be reached at [email protected].