Today was Regatta Day in St. John’s. On the first Wednesday in August, shops and businesses close for the day and the whole city heads to Quidi Vidi Lake for the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta. Do you want to guess where I spent my morning?

Today was Regatta Day in St. John’s. On the first Wednesday in August, shops and businesses close for the day and the whole city heads to Quidi Vidi Lake for the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta. Do you want to guess where I spent my morning?

Starting off summer vacation with a trip to New York City is becoming something of a tradition for me. Two days was plenty of time to explore the city and see a few of the sights on my list. And of course, enjoy some delicious food while I was there!

Where to go for a long weekend in June? Since I hadn’t thought this one out too far in advance, and given that summer vacation starts in less than a week, I settled for a quick trip to New York City this weekend. I’ve been to NYC several times in the last few years, each time seeing a different part of the city and doing different things (for the most part). I can handle the city in small doses and having just a few places to visit each time has made for some great trips. This one was no exception.

So, just what can you accomplish with a mere 48 hours (or less) in the Big Apple? As it turns out, quite a lot. You can enjoy an indulgent Italian dinner, have a leisurely breakfast/brunch, tour the largest art museum in the United States, visit an iconic holiday market, eat a Neapolitan pizza, have another leisurely breakfast/brunch, and wander aimlessly through Central Park.

First things first… it’s COLD in New York City this weekend! After weeks and weeks of abnormally warm temperatures in the northeast this fall, the weathermen have been warning of the oncoming arctic blast for days. And of course, today was the day I planned all of my outdoor activities. But the cold didn’t prevent me from enjoying the sites.

If you know me at all, it’s safe to say you’re probably wondering what exactly the person who hates cities is doing spending a weekend in the busiest of them all: New York City. Well, let me enlighten you. I’ve officially dubbed this my “Year of Travel”, and intend to go somewhere every month from now until August. But why New York? Growing up in Connecticut, I’ve visited NYC several times on day trips. My stepmother and I used to come here every December for a day of checking out the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. I’ve seen Central Park and Times Square. But I’ve never actually done the full tourist thing in the Big Apple. I’ve contemplated a day trip the last couple of summers, but for some reason never actually made it happen. So now I’m making it happen.

When a local photo group planned a day trip to New York City, I was all set for a day of fun and photos in one of America’s most iconic cities. I booked a round trip ticket on Amtrak from Boston to New York City, and planned to meet the group in the city. Unfortunately, the group trip was canceled several days prior to the excursion, and I was left with two choices: either cancel my reservation and stay home, or spend a day exploring the Big Apple on my own. I chose the latter, and had a great time finding my way around the city and exploring all that makes New York City such a unique place. So what does one do for a day in New York? Read on, and discover how you can see some of the best of the Big Apple in a short amount of time.