NYC: 8 Things to Do This Winter

At the start of any fresh year, I would normally list out my resolutions and goals. Sometimes they’re practical but usually, they’re a little too ambitious and one too many. This year I won’t be sharing my 2020 goals but instead continue to work on my finances, my home, creativity, and wellness.

Keeping that in mind, I’m sharing eight things anyone and everyone can participate during this warm winter.

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1. Go Ice Skating
There’s an ice skating rink in nearly every borough so there’s no excuse to not venture out to one. Plus, getting in the rink is so much fun! It’s the perfect date idea, good for groups, and a sure-fire way to make memories and laughter. Pro Tip: Bring your own skates so you can avoid paying rental fees + it’s a bit more sanitary.

2. Take a Day Trip to Belleayre Mountain
Put on your Heat Tech layers, ski coat, and take a day trip up to the Mountains for a day filled with skiing or snowboarding. Compared to Hunter Mountain it’s less crowded and more affordable. If you’re a beginner, like me, you could rent equipment and practice on the Bunny Slopes. And once you tire out head to the Ski Lodge for a drink or two. Spoiler alert: you will need a car for this.

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3. Warm Up with Ramen
This city is filled with amazing cuisines, one of them being Ramen. The spots I love are pretty small and can quickly fill out so I highly recommend showing up at least 30 minutes before the doors open for dinner. It’s recommended, because of the size of most ramen restaurants, that you dine solo or bring a friend but more than three people might cause a longer wait. A few spots I recommend: Ippudo, Totto Ramen, and Mu Ramen.

4. Cheer on the New York Rangers
There’s something wild about Hockey. I’m not sure if it’s the crowd, the chanting, or the fighting but whatever it is - it’s working. My partner and I have tickets to catch a game later this month and I am SO EXCITED.

5. Join a Studio and Participate in Their January Challenge
At the start of every year, all fitness studios start their membership challenges. Pick one and commit! It’s a great way to learn all the poses for a class, meet new people, and get into a healthy habit. A few studios I love without a doubt are Barre3, Y7 Studio, Fhitting Room, and SLT.

Not ready to commit to a full month just yet? Then sign up for a Classpass membership for studio flexibility.

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6. Spend the Day Visiting Local Breweries
NYC has been blessed with a micro-brewery renaissance and it’s freaking amazing. We no longer have to ride out to Hudson Valley for a good pour! Instead, hop on the 7 or L train and have a DAY with friends. Some are even situated next to other spots, ahem, the LIC trifecta.

7. Have a Spa Day at Spa Castle
Spa Castle is somewhat of a local gem in Flushing, Queens. It’s a couple of floors that house saunas, specialized massages, various pools, and an eatery. They regularly host discounts on groupons but as an insider, it’s best to visit during the weekday when there’s less foot traffic.

8. Spend the Day Reading Indoors
And for those days that are blistering cold…skip the outdoors and stay indoors curled up with a good book and a weighted blanket. Goodreads and NYPL regularly release lists of must-reads or you can pick up the book I’m currently reading now, The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

If you loved this post then you might enjoy my other NYC posts!

NYC: 10 Things to Do This Fall

It’s time to whip out the PSL, over-the-knee boots, and all of the sweaters. Fall has arrived in NYC - even if the weather slightly disagrees from time-to-time. Below, is a round up of my favorite autumnal things to do in New York that won’t all revolve around Halloween. Check it out! And if there’s anything I’ve left out let me know in the comments.

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1. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
In my honest opinion, there’s no better way to take in the skyline. Beat the crowds with a cup of Joe in tow and get there early, like 10 am early. You’ll thank me later.

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2. Take a Day Trip to the Apple Orchards
Grab your friends for the drive up, or take the MetroNorth or a bus service, and get ready to pick a bushel of apples from Apple Dave’s Orchards. There’s a tasting room full of their yummy cider, tons of outdoor space for picnickers, and family friendly.

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3. Head to Central Park
The fall foliage is breathtaking - bring your camera. Once you got the shot take a tour of the lake on a row boat.

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4. Eat Everything Pumpkin!
I absolutely mean this. Head to the farmer’s market each weekend, buy all things pumpkin, and eat to your little heart’s content. There’s a few farm-to-table restaurants in NYC that include pumpkin in their seasonal menus. Go there and eat that too.

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5. Get Yourself a Pumpkin at the Queens County Farm
It’s kid-friendly, has a corn maze, and is reasonably close to the city. I would check their calendar for events too!

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6. Take Yourself out to a Ball Game
Do yourself a favor and see The Mets play. Not The Yankees… The Mets. The crowd is friendlier and the air is filled with magic.

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7. Celebrate Oktoberfest
There are so many German beer houses in NYC it would be totally unacceptable to not spend one Saturday day drinking in them during Oktoberfest. Remember, have your favorite ale in your left hand and bratwurst in your right. Prost!

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8. Cheer on the NYC Marathon Runners!!
Maybe I’m bias, but it’s so inspiring to watch runners of all shapes and sizes chase their dreams to the finish line. This marathon touches all five boroughs so why not make a day out of it. Gather friends, create some funny, wacky signs, and cheer them on!

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9. Treat Yourself
No seriously. It’s Spa Week in NYC and most luxuriating services average around $50 which is a steal! (However you should tip on the original price and not the deal price.)

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10. Feast of San Gennaro
This is definitely my favorite fall festival in NYC for one reason alone - cannolis. Well, there’s also live music, amazing fresh pasta from the local restaurants, and the class festival rides.

If you loved this post then you might enjoy my other NYC posts!

NYC: Quick and Easy Day Trips to the Countryside!

A few weeks ago, EscapeMaker and Dutchess Tourism invited me into my backyard. So, like the curious little cat that I am, I found myself aboard the 7:53 am train headed towards Wassaic, New York. In case you're wondering, Wassaic is nestled inside of Dutchess Country and was established in 1683 as one of the original counties of New York. It's easily accessible by car, train, bus, air and boat - but for today's sake we're taking the train.

A mere three hours and nap later I arrived ready to taste my way through the quaint little town.

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First order of business was stopping in the Village of Millerton to browse Harney & Sons Teas followed by Irving Farm Coffee. The tea shop (one of two in NY!) offers tastings on all of their 250 teas. And Irving Farm Coffee has the boldest and flavorful coffee I've tried all summer. On that note, there's something for everyone already!

At noon, we made our way to McEnroe Farm for a tour and lunch which incorporated fresh and local ingredients from Hudson Valley. Fun fact, it's one of New York’s oldest and most diverse certified organic farms and stands at over 1,100 acres of fields, pastures, and greenhouses.

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Later we made our way down to the Taconic Distillery - probably my favorite stop - for some homegrown bourbon whiskey! Everything here is made in small batches using only the finest ingredients, including natural spring water from Rolling Hills Farm. It was all very good and the views outside of the Distillery could not be beaten!

The final stop on the tour brought us to Crown Maple Estates. I'm actually a HUGE maple candy and water addict so it was really interesting getting to learn how my favorite sweets are made.

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In case you were wondering who exactly EscapeMaker were, they've been NYC's guide to local getaways since 2000. Dutchess Tourism has operated the Farm Fresh Tours program for about 10 years by providing bus shuttle service to train passengers arriving at Metro-North Railroad stations at select towns.

Their goal is to encourage car-less travelers to hop on a train from New York City and spend the day exploring local agriculture and way of life in the Hudson Valley. And by local agriculture, they mean apple picking, visiting breweries, learning about cheese making and more.

If you're interested in taking your own tour with EscapeMaker, they will have tours available and on sale to the public on escapemaker.com/farmfreshtours. I also want to note, the Metro-North has deals & getaways all summer long so click here for more information.

Let me know if you have any questions or plan to take a tour soon!