Before my sophomore year, I went to America to travel around New York and exchange goodbyes with my brother. Although I didn’t look forward to the long flight to New York, the two-week adventure in America was worth the wait. I enjoyed a variety of new foods and explored lots of astonishing places. 

Must-Visit Places 

Times Square

I pulled myself out of bed early on the first day and visited Times Square. As I approached the destination, tall buildings and gigantic screens filled my view, and “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z echoed in the background. Throughout my trip, I stopped by Times Square multiple times to cherish the picturesque intersections sprinkled with souvenir stores, restaurants and more. 

Brooklyn Bridge 

At night, I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge for a walk to Dumbo. The colorful lights of the skyscrapers, streetlights and traffic brightened the city’s nighttime. Courageous visitors climbed on top of the edge to take an Instagram-worthy pic in front of Manhattan’s skyline view. If you want to go for a walk and see the jaw-dropping view of New York City, I recommend a night walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. 

The Edge

I also visited the Edge located inside the Hudson Yards Mall, where visitors can see a 360-degree birds-eye view of New York from the 100th floor. The Edge overshadowed the Brooklyn Bridge as it provided travelers with easier access to the picture-perfect view. I went around 7 p.m. to take a snap of the sunset, and I had to wait in line for forty minutes. The Edge hosts tons of tourists every day, and I suggest this place if you like to take the best shot of your life with NYC as a backdrop. 

Food

Ess-a-bagel 

On my first day in New York City, I went to Ess-a-bagel and feasted on the Signature Favorite and Reuben Fusion. The Signature Favorite contained salmon, and the Reuben Fusion included pastrami, cheese, and Russian dressing. Chewy, soft and savory goodness delighted my taste buds with every bite. I recommend all true bagel lovers to drop by this place. 

The Lobster Place 

When you step into the Chelsea Market, you can see multiple restaurants and shops filled with customers. Among all the restaurants, I checked out The Lobster Place. I ordered steamed lobster and Maine Lobster Roll. The restaurant lived up to its name, as the lobster meat reached the pinnacle of chewy and salty. With one bite, the meat and the juice flooded my taste buds. After the steamed lobster, I tried out the Maine Lobster roll but the cold lobster and bread missed the mark for me. I rate the steamed lobster a 5 out of 5 but the Maine lobster roll a 2 out of 5. 

Sarabeth’s 

On the last day, I went to Sarabeth’s, located South of Central Park. I ordered the garden omelet, smoked salmon Benedict, and buttermilk pancakes. Like the name, the omelet boasted a bunch of vegetables. The orange jam beside the eggs complemented the blandness of the egg. 

Next, I tried the smoked salmon Benedict. The soft-boiled egg on top of the salmon Benedict caught my eyesight. When I poked the egg, the yolk soaked the bread. With the first bite, the creamy yolk filled my mouth. 

For the buttermilk pancake, the sweet maple syrup and the sour strawberries kept the pancakes fluffy. This comes first in my top pancake list. I rate this place a 5 out of 5. 

Gallagher’s Steakhouse 

I went to Gallagher’s Steakhouse, located near Broadway. I ordered a porterhouse, filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. The well-seasoned mashed potatoes and soft cream spinach went well with the steak. The filet mignon was no match to the porterhouse, my personal favorite, which delighted my taste buds with its sweetness. If you want to eat steak in New York and have a hard time choosing where to go, I suggest a dinner at Gallagher’s Steakhouse. 

Music

Mezzrow Jazz

After contacting DIS alumni Will Chung and his mom, we all met together at Mezzrow Jazz. Chung recommended this place with a review that Mezzrow has a reputation among musicians for their outstanding jazz performances.  When I stepped into the café, I heard the trickle of notes as the musicians prepared for their performance. The piano, cello, and drums collaborated to create rhythmic pulses and harmonies that brought the music to life. I wasn’t familiar with jazz, but through this experience, I learned the swing and groove of the genre. 

Lion King Musical 

People around me said that The Lion King Musical was the best musical they had ever seen before. Therefore, “The Lion King” sat high on my priority list for my trip to New York City.  People of all ages came together on Broadway to watch the show. The start of the musical hit me hard because I expected the actors on the stage but suddenly, the performers danced behind me and marched towards the stage singing the intro song of the Lion King. The intricate costumes and synchronized dance moves amazed me. I highly suggest the Lion King musical. 

Shopping

Soho Street 

The majority of Korean blogs I browsed explored Soho Street. On my second last day in New York, I went for a walk around Soho Street. I entered different shops like Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Alo, PALACE, Glossier, and more. I enjoyed Glossier, a brand not found in Korea, the most. The pink-and-white interior design caught my eye instantly. I wanted to look more, but I had more planned for the day, so I couldn’t spend enough time looking around Soho Street. If I have a chance to visit New York for the second time, I would definitely go. 

Cornell Store

On the last full day in Ithaca, I went to the Cornell store located at Cornell University. The first floor displayed school supplies and kids’ clothes, and the second floor contained women’s and men’s clothes. On the second floor, most guests also used the tables in the middle of the store to enjoy bakeries and coffee from the café. Multiple items printed with the word ‘Cornell’ boosted school spirit. I spent three hours carefully picking the clothes that I wanted. 

Throughout the two-week trip, I enjoyed the must-try foods and the must-go places in New York City. Although saying goodbye to my brother made me emotional, the trip holds a special place in my heart because it would be my first and last New York Trip as a high-schooler.