New York City

During my trip to New York City, every day was full of fun and excitement. Going to see the sights and just walking around the city is great. I had much fun checking out Central Park and walking down Broadway.

Just a week prior to the trip, I saw a special of food network about a restaurant named Lombardi's. On The Food Network, I learned that Lombardi's was the first pizzeria in the United States and has been serving customers for over 100 years, so I had to check it out. The wait was over an hour, but the pizza was great.

Two more highlights that I wanted to talk about:
1. The Frick Collection. Make sure to go there if you have any appreciation for art. I was thoroughly amazed the whole time; the art there was quite fascinating. I even talked to Jon Voight about it when I saw him; he happened to be staying at the same hotel.
2. Broadway. All there is to say is, get tickets! You will not be disappointed. The shows here are the best and were very fun. I watched "Wicked" and highly recommend it. Also, a friend of mine saw the "Lion King," another hit. If you don't mind paying a lot, I recommend buying your tickets at the box office. The wait is short and you have experienced the city more instead of waiting in line for hours.

Quick Tips:

1. New York City is quite expensive: be prepared to spend much more than you are used to especially when eating out for dinner.

2. Don't be afraid to walk around the city. There is no way to really find out what it is all about unless you walk around.

3. Try to get a hotel near Central Park; my hotel had a great view.

4. If you visit Empire State Building, make sure you go on a clear day. That way, when you go to the top, you have a clear view of the city. When I went, it was cloudy and the visibility was quite low.

Best Way To Get Around:

I suggest buying tickets to the tour buses. It is kind of expensive but is well worth it, especially if you buy the night tour option. The tour guides are very friendly and very informative.

I heard about this restaurant on The Food Network. It is known as the first pizzeria in the United States and was established in 1903, if I remember correctly. I highly recommend checking this place out for dinner; however, the wait can be very long (1+ hour).

Rice to Riches is right across from Lombardi's. While waiting for my seating to Lombardi's I stopped by Rice to Riches for a small treat. Rice to Riches reminds me of an ice-cream parlor but, instead of serving ice-cream they serve rice pudding. They have many traditional ice-cream flavors made into rice pudding. It was quite delicious. I wish I would have thought of the concept. Either way, I recommend Rice to Riches for anybody who wants something to snack on; it's definitely something different.

I went to see this show with my family. The show was very long and very enjoyable. The length of the musical was welcomed, because I want to get the most out of the ticket price, which didn't come cheap.

If you visit New York City, make sure to watch a Broadway show. I do not think it is cheaper if you order online, but I know that you are guaranteed a spot if you do. Try ordering 2 months in advance.

The music was great, and the cast was very talented.

The Frick Collection was one of my favorite sights on my trip to New York, NY. I would highly recommend anyone to visit the Frick Collection if they have any interest in art. I was lucky to have visited during a special exhibit and was able to view many art pieces that have previously only been available for viewing in private collections. It was a real treat.

Note though, that even when a special exhibit is not being hosted at the Frick Collection it is still a great place to go.

I stared in awe at the many great pieces of art housed in this museum; seeing the self-portrait of Rembrandt made the trip for me. I hope that one day my future children will be able to go see the Frick Collection; it was a great experience.

The double decker buses are a joy to ride on, especially during good weather. You really do get a great view of the city being on the top of one of these buses. The tour guides are very informative and are very personal. They describe what it was like during 9/11 when they pass ground zero, tell their favorite places to eat, and give interesting historical information. Oh, and they also tell you where to shop if you are interested in that. I highly recommend a bus tour for anybody new to the city.