Sunday, December 11, 2011

Girls' Day Trip to New York City

I promised you all a recap of my annual "I {Heart} NY" trip, and so you shall have one! If you've been reading for awhile, you know that every year I head up to New York City for one day in December. It's a fantastic day trip put on by our local Parks and Rec department. My friend Christy is my perpetual partner in crime, and our friend Adriana joined us for the fun this time. It was a day filled with a few chatty bus-mates, yummy food, beautiful store windows, and chilly New York City air!

The only real downside to our trip is that we had to be at the local Parks and Rec by 4 am on Saturday morning to catch our bus up to the city. Being seasoned P&R travelers, we arrived early enough to snag our own seats on the bus and guard our territory fiercely. The ride up was largely uneventful, save for trying to apply eye make-up in the Lincoln Tunnel without stabbing myself in the eye.

The bus always lets us off across the street from Macy's, where we also have a fine view of the Empire State Building. It's always a nice surprise to look up and see it towering over us.

From Macy's, we wandered uptown to Lord and Taylor, who had the most beautiful store windows. I loved the sweet little scenes:























Next up was a stop at the New York Public Library, where we joined a discussion on Philosophy and read a few classics. I'm sorry...I had to stop typing because that is actually not true at all. Honestly, we just wanted to see the inside because we walk past it every year and I love Patience and Fortitude, the two lions who guard the entrance. The library had a beautiful tree inside!


Onward we pressed...not really caring where we were headed. Mostly we wander around the city aimlessly, just taking in all the sites and buying the occasional "bargain fashion item" from a street vendor. We passed many of our favorites: Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park.


Lunch was an affair to remember. Usually, we choose whatever random off-beat deli or restaurant we come across, but this time we decided on Carnegie Deli. While it is a huge tourist spot, we came to the conclusion that it is a tourist spot for a reason. Prices are high, yes, but the portions were enormous and the food was delicious. It was cool to sit next to all the famous people on the wall.























No trip to New York City is complete without a stop at Tiffany and Co. While I never seem to remember to save enough to buy my own charm, I live vicariously through Christy. She picked up a pair of earrings while I pretended that the Santa sleigh was all for me.























The day was beginning to wind down, and we didn't have enough time for a major stop, so we headed over to Times Square, where we ran across a new Naked Cowboy. I hope he doesn't catch cold in his underpants like that.

As we waited for the bus to pick us back up on 34th Street, we all snapped a few shots of Macy's all lit up. We didn't have time to go inside this year, but it's always hustling and bustling.

And before we knew it, it was time to get on the bus, prop up our aching feet, and sleep all the way home to Virginia.

Until next year, New York!

Have you ever been to the Big Apple? 


Editor's Note: I am aware that I look like death warmed over, but if you rode on a bus in the wee hours of the morning and tried to apply make-up in a dark tunnel while riding said bus, you'd look awful too. Also, I {Heart} New York, but I don't heart the dirty part and I don't believe in wearing my nice coat and nice shoes that may or may not get slathered in grime. That is all.

20 comments:

  1. Beautiful pics! Looks like you had fun! Susu

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  2. That is fun! Wish I can go one day with my girlfriends too. I went once when I was 19 and fell in LOVE with that beautiful city. Thanks for sharing! Have a great week.
    Veronica

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  3. Were you there yesterday? The Empire State Building was red to raise awareness for the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. I wish I could have seen it in person, but it looks beautiful!

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  4. I always love reading your NYC trip report Amanda. What a fun tradition!

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  5. What an awesome trip! What a great idea for your Parks and Rec to put together. It's kinda every girls dream to wander New York at Christmastime...well, this girl's dream at least!

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  6. What a fun girls trip! I visited NYC for the first time about 7 years ago and loved it. I would love to go at Christmastime to see it all decorated so I am loving all the photos you shared. I hope to get back there some day...

    Jennifer

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  7. I would LOVE to go to New York someday. It's on my list. You're lucky you live so close. What a fun annual trip to make! =)

    ~ Catie

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  8. You hit all the best spots, how fabulous! Oh how I love the Big Apple, and your pictures make me miss it even more! Glad you had a great time with your pals!
    xo
    Kate

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  9. Your pictures are beautiful. They bring back memories from years ago. I grew up in New York and lived there most of my life. My husband, myself and our children moved to Arizona 7 years ago and have not been back since. I must say viewing NYC as a tourist is certainly not the same as if you actually live there. I would never want to live there again, especially raising children but maybe it would be nice to be a tourist one day at Christmas time. Thanks for sharing your trip, and bringing back memories from Christmas past. ;)

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  10. Sounds like you had a wonderful time! I just love the store window displays at Christmas time in New York! We live about an hour from the city but don't get in as much as I would like to - but we are planning on taking the kids to their first Broadway show this winter! You look like you covered a lot of the city in your visit! Thanks for sharing!
    -Shelley

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  11. it looks like so much fun, I would love to go there someday! I just saw the movie New Year's Eve today all set in New York at all these places you visited

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  12. Sigh. This looks like so much fun! I wish tickets weren't so outrageous from LR. I would love to go with my boys this time of year. I used to practically live there just before I got married. I traveled up every Sunday and came back every Thursday for several weeks on end. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you!

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  13. Oh, how fun! And you do not look like "death warmed over" - silly! - you look happy!

    I've only been to the airports, but I would love to visit the city, especially when everything is decorated for Christmas.

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  14. How fun! I think that going to Macy's would be on the top of my list...getting to buy cute things and how big it is! But you certainly had a great time, it seems!

    Becky B.
    www.organizingmadefun.com
    Organizing Made Fun

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  15. Well first of all...I think you look terrific!! And what a fab trip you had! Loved all the photos.
    It has been years since I was in NYC! I really enjoyed it when we went. I would love to go back!
    Thanks for sharing your day
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  16. What a fun day! I've only been to NYC once and your pictures made me want to go back. Those store displays are something else. I hope one day you can take your girls there to see them.

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  17. I love to visit New York. I've been in the spring, in the summer, and in the autumn, but never at Christmastime. Jack and I have talked about going there for a romantic getaway some December, but that's never happened. All the places you mentioned would surely be fun to see all decked out for Christmas, though!

    BTW, I have a great memory of shopping at Tiffany's. Jack was in Chicago on the day of our 25th wedding anniversary. I flew up there to meet him. We spent the afternoon mostly window-shopping on the Miracle Mile. . .but he surprised me by taking me into Tiffany's and buying me an anniversary band. That ring is my most prized possession. That was one day when I felt like a princess. :)

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  18. That looks like such a great trip Amanda! We've been to NY once but it was in September. I really want to go one year for Christmas...the city seems so magical for the holidays!

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  19. Amanda, you're the best, love the pics and the recap, and I have to agreed with the other reader, you look beautiful, thank you so much for everything....xoxo

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  20. Those are some really great pictures. I love christmas time in NYC.

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