Visiting NYC {Round II}

I've been to New York multiple times, but this was by far my favorite trip! It's round 2 because this was my second visit to NYC in 2013 -- double check on my goals for the year.

It was the perfect mix of planned adventures and spontaneous adventures.

I was there for 5 nights, 4 complete days...also the perfect amount of time.

I stayed with my friend in Lower Manhattan, and I got to see several other friends who've recently moved to NYC - all around awesome! Thank you for commenting, tweeting, and emailing suggestions of places to see/eat/find - I did as many of them as I could :)

Friday morning I had breakfast with this view...amazing.

After breakfast, I did some solo exploring. I studied a map of NYC (good tip if you don't know the city), and just hopped on the Subway and got off at random stops. I went to Brooklyn and walked around a little!

I also walked around the Financial District..saw the Stock Exchange...all of Wall Street.

Friday night, we went to my friend's apartment in West Midtown. He has an insanely incredible view of the city. Check out a video of it here.

It was great seeing friends from college and hanging out with them in a different city!

Dinner with Nick and his roommate, Eliza - they showed me a great time in NYC!

I got to have lunch with my cousins, Nikki & Ineze on Saturday in Union Square.

Nick and I in Union Square (same neighborhood as NYU)

One viewer suggested Milk Bar..thank you! I had the Cereal Milk soft serve..omg tasted just like cereal milk in ice cream form.

One night we passed by people watching a movie in a park, similar to how people do at Atlantic Station - such a fun summer activity!

Loved this. Transparent couches on sand right by the water and 3 of NYC's bridges. It was a great time with incredible views...

Fun photo I snapped of the bridges.

Nick and I also went to the High Line, and walked the entire thing! It's a rooftop garden, built over old rail road tracks...very cool and very beautiful. It's almost too much for someone obsessed with city views (#guilty).

Beautiful photo Nick snapped of a mural we saw while walking the High Line.

One night we had dinner in Little Italy, so delicious!

The government buildings in NYC are phenomenal. I wish I could have toured the inside of them, but Nick got this photo of me outside of this U.S. Courthouse. #politicalnerd

One night we had Mexican at this place called Tortaria...it's the best Mexican food I've ever had. That corn.. Mexican Street Corn..ah-maz-ing.

We got brunch in the Chelsea Market - such a cool place and cool area! I'm hoping Atlanta's upcoming Ponce City Market will resemble it ;)

I ordered the chicken (with tabasco honey) and cheddar waffle. I wish I could relive this meal over...and over..

Fried green tomatoes were on the menu so naturally...

Nick's brunch - yum!

We walked through Chinatown one night.

So much Subway riding. I feel like a semi-expert on NYC's subway system.

All in all, it was a really really fantastic trip. The weather wasn't great, but the trip was still perfect. I wouldn't have wanted to spend my Labor Day Weekend anywhere else. I'm still recovering from the late nights, miles of walking, and just living the fast-paced NYC life for a few days. 

NYC is one-of-a-kind and there's something about the city that intrigues everyone. Some people are so intrigued and in love that they want to live there, I totally get it.

And then some people, like me, like to love and adore NYC from a distance...coming back to the city every once and a while...when we need a little something that only NYC can provide...

like him.