Memorial Day Weekend in NYC

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve always known New York City to be a winter wonderland – a place where snow falls like feathers, where Central Park is scattered with ice skaters sporting rosy cheeks, and Christmas lights wrap the entrance to every building. This past weekend was the first time I walked the streets in short-sleeve weather (more like naked weather), 82° to be exact.

Most of our friends and family live in the South, so y’all are well into the 90’s at this point. But up here it has been ~ C O L D ~ leading up to Memorial Day weekend (and quickly reverted back to chilly weather on Tuesday). This is our first summer spent in New England so we’re doing our best to take advantage of the cities & states that are only a few hours drive from us.

I’ve always loved New York City, but after spending some time visiting AJ while he played for the Giants I fell in love with Jersey too. So this weekend we chose a hotel on the Jersey side instead of Manhattan (money-saver as well). We booked the Hilton Meadowlands right across from MetLife stadium. It was only a few miles from Lincoln Tunnel and had the most AMAZING views across the water. Just gorgeous.

Being from the South I never knew much about New Jersey. I had no idea how beautiful the NYC skyline is from the other side of the Hudson River. I never knew how easy it is to get from state to state. And I definitely didn’t know that there was so much to do on the Jersey side. Each time I visit, I’m blown away even more. Who knows, could be a Jersey girl one day?!?!

Anyways, we started the weekend with a few friends at our favorite rooftop lounge in Chelsea – such a fun time! The next morning we got up and went to a waterfront breakfast spot in Hoboken, NJ (my new favorite city, seriously). They had a quaint little patio and some killer breakfast potatoes. Afterwards, we went to walk off some of our food and came across a pack of Lime scooters hanging around. Of course, we had to rent some!

So off we go, scootin’ down the coast past so many gorgeous piers, boats, people jogging, ducks waddling around, and families riding bikes – enjoying what was right in front of us equally as much as the breathtaking view of New York City from afar. We came across some really cool outdoor spaces: a skatepark and this huge field right on the water with tons of people playing flag football. And, my favorite part, we went to Carlos Bake Shop. If you don’t know what that is, you need to go straight to Hulu and turn on Cake Boss. This was a family favorite in my house growing up, and I knew I was bound to see a cast member, a.k.a. family member, of Buddy “The Cake Boss” Valastro. Sure enough, we walked in and found Mauro doing his thing in the kitchen.

The rest of Saturday was full of adventure. We went on our first underwater subway ride from Hoboken to 33rd Street (packed in like sardines, complete with a crazy man arguing with anyone who took the bait). We didn’t take the subway anymore after that trip… it wasn’t pleasant LOL, but made it to the City! We saw the World Trade Center up close for the first time and spent awhile taking in the magnitude of the 9/11 Memorial Pools. We made our way to Grand Central Terminal so the teenage girl in me could see an iconic spot on the Gossip Girl filming map (and lots of other shows/movies for those of you who actually grew up). We did some shopping, covered a lot of ground, and ate some Chik-Fil-A (because there are NONE less than 20 minutes from me in Massachusetts and a Southern Girl needs her chicken nuggets). We walked until we couldn’t walk anymore, then started all over again the next day.

Sunday was the best day. We rode a ferry for the first time, which gave way for a refreshing and much desired breeze in the midst of all that heat. And the Statue of Liberty was just spectacular. To be in the presence of America’s largest representation of Freedom on a weekend that honors those who have sacrificed their lives, for me, so that I can know freedom is just an indescribable awe. I will never forget it.

We hit the Central Park Zoo after that, which was a dream. Although, it was very very small. It was way smaller than the Atlanta Zoo, which is WAY smaller than the NC Zoo in Asheville. It was so different than any I’d been to before because the animals weren’t necessarily encaged, or at least it didn’t feel like they were. Of course the Leopard and the Bears had full coverage, but the Monkeys and Panda could have easily climbed over the 3.5ft glass barriers (as seen in the slideshow below). I guess, in a way, they probably felt more free. Good for the animals, but I personally wouldn’t want to be there after dark. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It was a beautiful weekend full of yummy food, exploration and admiration for everything we found along the way. We walked at least 4 miles collectively and left in agreement that we can’t go back until it has been long enough to forget our way around Manhattan (LOL). Who would have thought we’d run out of places to go in a City like that? I’m just kidding, we just ran out of energy and, let’s be real, money. I highly recommend picking a hotel on the Jersey side next time you take a trip to New York City. There is SO much to see – you won’t regret it!

I’ll send you off with a really hot pic of my hubby, it’d be a shame not so share 😉