Raindrops on ponchos and whiskers on squirrels, bright copper ceilings and warm smelly subways, brown paper & plastics drifting with the wind, these are a few of my favorite things… ok not really, but they are some things you are likely to experience in New York City, which is one of my favorite places to visit in the US. I’ll give you a few of my actual favorite aspects of NYC here:

The conglomeration of people that flock here

One of my absolute, hands down, favorite thing about traveling is that you get to meet other people and hear about how they live. Often, when you travel to smaller or less populous places, you find that the people you meet share many common characteristics and experiences, as often they are natives to that locale. In NYC, you get not only native New Yorkers, you get people from Jersey, the surrounding New England states, and people from all over the world. You’re just as likely to talk to someone who has grown up in Brooklyn than someone who spent their life in a remote village in the Philippines. Case and point, this last weekend I went to NYC and met a woman who was originally from the United Kingdom, but had spent the last decade or so teaching primary school in Kuwait. It was fascinating to hear about how the teaching experience differs between the UK and Kuwait (kids are more obedient in her classes in Kuwait than in the UK) and to hear about the environment she lives in there.

How the subways unify everyone

When you swipe your pass and walk through the gates of the subway system, you become equal to all the other people who did that before you. Whether you sit next to a street artist, a stock broker, or a homeless person, in the subway system everyone has equal footing, whether good or bad. You are just as likely to be jostled as you disembark your train as the next bloke, which gives even visitors a leg up. While in NYC, I was asked on 4 separate occasions for directions or help navigating the subway system. Everyone is able to help out to some extent, even if just giving a tip of how to differentiate uptown from downtown trains, and most are more than happy to help.

The vast expanse of history located there

I’ve been to NYC 5 times now, and there is still so many historical sites that I have not visited or learned about. Whatever your interest, there is bound to be something that correlates to it in NYC. If you are into social justice issues, Greenwich Village boasts many locations that have served as pivotal spots for various movements to begin (civil rights, women’s rights, LGBT rights, to name but a few). If Presidential history interests you, there are multiple sites that were influential to some of the early presidents especially (from the birthplace of FDR to checking out Trump Towers, you can get your fill no matter your political leanings). Perhaps you are particularly interested in the history of minorities, you could check out the National Museum of the Native American near Battery Park, or find the Seneca Village sign in Central Park. Whatever your interest, NYC is sure to be able to provide you with something to check out.

If you’d like to arrange travel to NYC, please send an email or request a quote. I would be more than happy to talk to you about your interests and organize a trip that really allows you experience the culture you want to see in the Big Apple!