posted by Ashalah on travel, Travel Vlog Tuesday, VEDA

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Today is the first edition of Travel Vlog Tuesday, a brand new feature here at Ashalah. You ask me questions about travel (or moving) and I answer them via video (or email, or post). I am taking a small break from VEDA’s topics to do this, but am still vlogging so it counts right? Today’s vlog features two questions, one from Ally and one from Megan.

Ally asks…

How do you walk around with a giant camera and NOT draw attention to yourself as a tourist? My man and I have been discussing this lately since we’re going to NYC this week. He’s a photographer, and wants to take lots of pics, but doesn’t want to, in his words, “look like a douche”. Any tips??

I address this a bit in the video, complete with demonstrations on how you *can* look like a douchey tourist. To further answer this question: there’s not really a way to avoid looking like a tourist with a camera but make sure you step off to the side to take photos. Don’t stand in the middle of the sidewalk to do so! Also, what I couldn’t demonstrate since I don’t own any of the souvenirs that are sold in NYC, as long as you don’t walk around wearing a state of liberty foam crown on your head, and an I <3 NY shirt you should be fine. If you really don’t want to walk around with a camera on your back or over your shoulder (my preferred method), carry it in a bag. Less noticeable.

Don’t worry about looking like a tourist just because you want to take a bunch of photos! Just don’t *act* like one!

Some places you should definitely visit while in NYC…

• Empire State Building. Great views of Manhattan and a must-see in NYC.
• The Highline. Located in the Meatpacking District around 13th and 10th, these old elevated subway tracks have been turned into a park. Really nice to see, opened last summer and I’m sure it’s looking even better now!
• Central Park. Even if you only take a short walk through the park, it’s great to see. The best views of Manhattan, for me, are at the top of the reservoir (entrance at 92nd and 5th) especially at night. Just don’t go alone at night. CP is pretty safe but I still wouldn’t recommend walking around alone after hours.
• Financial District and Battery Park. This is at the tip of Manhattan and may be my favorite spot in Manhattan. Walk around Wall Street and the Financial District then end up in Battery Park looking across the water to the Statue of Liberty.
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. These two are must sees but you really need an entire day to devote to standing in line (it’s long) and getting over to the islands and seeing everything. Worth it, but if you don’t have the time just hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry. It’s free (or at least very cheap), and it gets a pretty good view of the Statue. When you get to Staten Island, deboard the ferry and then get on the next one
• Brooklyn Bridge. You have to walk it. It took me 6 years to do this and I did it the last weekend I was in NYC. FANTASTIC views. You don’t realize just how big Manhattan is until you are on this bridge. Don’t bother with the pizza at the other end in Brooklyn, it’s famous. Famous for being a tourist trap. I hear their pizza isn’t spectacular, at least not for how long you will have to wait for it!
• Eating in NYC. I know a ton of really good restaurants, just ask if you want some rec’s. One word to the wise: do not eat around Times Square. Costs are escalated and quality isn’t the best. Best neighborhoods to try food: Little Italy, East Village, Midtown East, Upper East Side, Hell’s Kitchen (9th in the 50′s is awesome for restaurants. Plus an old neighborhood of mine!), Chinatown, Greenwich Village…the list goes on.
• NYC Bagels. If you’ve never had one, get them here. My personal favorite is Tal’s Bagels on 86th and First Ave on the Upper East Side. They make their bagels fresh in their bakery and refuse to toast them. Their cream cheese is pretty fantastic too. If you want one hot, ask which just came out of the oven. Even if you have had a New York bagel, have another one. And then bring me back some?!
• Crumbs Bakery. GO. Just do it. They have the best cupcakes. I don’t like Magnolia’s at all, even though that’s the famous place in NYC for cupcakes. (Magnolia’s was the only cupcake that I ever scraped off the frosting and put it in the trash) Crumbs is delicious and you can totally split one between two people (but why would you want to?!).
• If you don’t make it to the Empire State Building, catch happy hour at 230 Fifth‘s rooftop bar. That is the address of the place, and the name of the bar. It has great views of the Empire State Building and the city, plus their cocktails are pretty awesome too. Just a tad bit pricey, but you are in Manhattan!
• Joshua Tree. If you like 80s music, go to this bar on 3rd Ave between 34th and 35th. They have 80′s music  on all night and play the music videos on the big screens.

If you need any other recommendations, please email me! I have a lot stored in my brain on what to do.

Megan asks…

How do you like living in Colorado after living in New York for so long? What things do you like about Colorado and what do you miss about New York?

I think this one is pretty well explained on the video

Ally and Megan, I hope this answers your questions! If you have any questions you want answered next Tuesday, please ask away! I clearly had way too much fun in this video.

Tags: From the Big City to the Big Mountains