new york – MLE Travel Diary https://mletraveldiary.com A travel blog by Marissa Ellsworth. Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:32:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/mletraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-IMG_0759.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 new york – MLE Travel Diary https://mletraveldiary.com 32 32 214466929 7 Cool Things To See In New York City https://mletraveldiary.com/destinations/new-york-city-things-to-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-york-city-things-to-do Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://mletraveldiary.com/?p=6715 Sharing a few of my favorite things to see in New York City to help you plan your next trip to the Big Apple!

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There are so many amazing things to see in New York City! I literally don’t think it’s possible to ever see everything that the city has to offer, so I will share my personal favorites to help you plan your next trip.

NYC was the first big city I ever visited, and it was MAGICAL. I’ve since been back many times, including the time I spent living there for a full month!

Keep reading for 8 cool things I loved visiting in NYC. And don’t forget to click the button below to save all these spots and more to your Google Maps!

Click to save my NYC Travel Destinations on Google Maps

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1. Little Island NYC

The Little Island Park is a relaxing oasis located in the West Village, and is truly my favorite hidden gem in the city. it’s so peaceful and a nice escape from the concrete jungle when you need one. There’s a lot of grassy sitting areas, benches, and tables so you can sit and spend a while here, or just walk through! You can read more details here!

2. The Vessel

The Vessel is located along the High Line in Hudson Yards. The High Line is a 1.5 mile long park; I highly recommend walking through the park. It’s a great way to see the westside of the city!

As of now in 2023, you are still not able to go up to the top like you used to be able to. However, you can walk through for free and check out that view through the middle.

3. Oculus NYC

Oculus was built after 9/11 in the World Trade Center as a representation of the city’s strength and resilience. It is very stunning and also doubles as a transportation hub and shopping mall. You can spend a few hours here, or just come in for a quick photo!

4. Grand Banks Restaurant

Grand Banks is an amazing oyster bar with delicious food and drinks! Plus if you couldn’t tell, it’s located on a historic wooden ship, docked at Pier 25 in Tribeca.

You’ll get unreal views of both the New Jersey and NYC skylines while dining – it’s tough to beat! Be sure to make your reservation in advance – they’re open for booking each summer!

5. DUMBO

DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and refers to this cute neighborhood! There are cobblestone streets, views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, and tons of trendy restaurants and shops to explore. 

I recommend spending a full day or at least half-day in this area! If you want to just chill; you can have a picnic and sit at the Brooklyn Bridge Park! Or to make it more active, you can walk across the bridge and all around the neighborhood!

6. Ama Raw Bar

Ama Raw Bar was my FAVORITE restaurant to go to when I was living here for a month! There are two locations; one in the East Village and one in the West Village. Yes, I have been to both and both are fantastic.

It is, as the name suggests, a raw bar that has delicious oysters (featured), fun cocktails, and really yummy appetizers and main courses! I have this obsession with bao buns, and they have some of the best bao buns I’ve ever had there.

7. Bryant Park

Bryant Park is another little escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city!

Whether you live here or are planning your trip to NYC, I recommend checking out these spots! For more ideas, you can check out the Go City New York pass which will give you discounted access to a ton of tourist attractions. 

Please let me know if you have any questions, and be sure to follow along on my journey on Instagram!

💙mariss

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]]> 6715 Little Island Is A Must-See In New York City https://mletraveldiary.com/destinations/little-island-new-york-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=little-island-new-york-city Thu, 25 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://mletraveldiary.com/?p=4607 Have you ever heard of the Little Island Park?! Located in the West Village in New York City, this is one of my favorite spots to visit.

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Have you ever heard of the Little Island Park?! Located in the West Village in New York City, this is one of my favorite spots to visit. There’s so much to do within the park, and it really feels like you’ve escaped NYC while you’re here. Be sure to check out their calendar of free events all summer long!

For more of my favorite places in New York City, be sure to check out my Collection on Google Maps linked below!

Click to save my NYC Bucket List on Google Maps

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When you first walk in, there’s this nice little sitting area for adults and play ground for kids! Open from Spring to Fall, there is also a food kiosk open all day. Be sure to check out their menu for their hours and what they have to offer currently! 

You can then scroll through the gardens on any of the walking paths, or sit down to relax on the boulders and benches. I came here a few times to journal after work; it was so relaxing.

view of the New Jersey skyline from New York City across the Hudson River

Make sure to soak in that New Jersey skyline! I think it is SO cool you can see straight across the water. Especially when being in a big city, I think it’s extra important to see water and other nature.

Additionally, while this park is so enjoyable any time of day, my favorite time to come was sunset. This was one of my all-time favorite photos from my month-long New York City trip:

Once you’ve had enough of the park, you can continue walking along the Hudson River! There is a long walking path that connects to a ton of different piers. Especially as the weather starts to get warmer, you’ll see SO many people out and about – walking their dogs, jogging, biking, rollerblading, etc.

Comment below your favorite place to hang out in NYC! And enjoy your time exploring the Big Apple, one of my favorite cities in the world.

💙mariss

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