Solo Travel NYC: 5 Must-Dos for First Timers

Why NYC Feels Like a Second Home for Londoners

I had the opportunity to revisit one of my favourite places in the world, the electric city that never sleeps. New York’s hustle and bustle always appealed to me, a place very similar to London with its melting pot of culture, people and noise. My trip to New York in 2015 was short and sweet. I went with my family and did the typical touristy things. After that trip, I knew I wanted to return; being there felt like a second home. As vast and wide as the world is, for the most part, we only really stay in one place for our whole lives. London will always be home, but it’s great to know I can feel comfortable living elsewhere. Often fear, and I guess habit, can keep us in one place; feelings of homesickness and anxiety make it hard to come out of a comfort zone and never really explore the world. Not everyone may be comfortable or confident enough to travel or have the resources, but I feel as humans we’re somewhat entitled to. I’ve found one way of escapism is watching people’s vlogs online or even reading a blog post, a vicarious way of travelling the world from wherever you are, until maybe you can.

So I went back to New York in June of this year, this time as a solo traveller. It was booked last minute with the initial plan of meeting my older brother out there. I ended up having a fulfilling week full of beautiful sights and architecture, good music and great food. I only wish I could have stayed longer and booked a spa treatment and facial; nevertheless, I had a relaxing period, especially walking around at night. You’d think travelling alone would be quite lonely, with no one to have breakfast with or accompany you on what can be a confusing subway system. However, I feel the only con was the photographer’s dilemma, not having pictures of me taken, and I felt I couldn’t entrust a stranger with my camera. I think getting used to travelling alone is quite empowering because we don’t simply rely on others to make things more fun, but for support, which, of course, isn’t negative but can hinder our own self-reliance.

It was quite humid when I was there, and I also encountered a rain storm which was unlike any shower I’ve experienced here in London. I did enjoy the fluctuations in the weather; it made the days more interesting. So inspired by my trip, here at 5 things you should do in NYC:

Embracing Solo Travel: Bridges, High Line & Night Walks

If you love walking like me, it’s definitely a leisurely way to enjoy all the city has to offer while getting a little exercise. The 3 best places for walking were the 2 bridges and the High Line. I first went on the Brooklyn Bridge, which was great and not too crowded. It was quite windy, which is something to expect when walking a bridge over a river, so I made sure my belongings were secure. You can take some amazing shots from the bridge and watch the cars, boats and cyclists pass by. I did see more cyclists on the Manhattan Bridge, travelling from work, which is great and emphasised how low-emission and accessible travelling in NYC can be. I walked the Manhattan Bridge at night, which was beautiful and so relaxing. For sure, the best place to visit is The High Line; the views weren’t as magical as the M bridge at night, but it was a nice place to stroll or run and enjoy the horticulture there, great if you’re into plants, as there were a lot of friendly gardeners on site.

Master the NYC Subway Like a Pro

One of the great things about the city is that it’s so accessible, and the subway system makes it so. I bought a weekly MetroCard for $30, which seems so much better than any travel card deal here in London. Swipe in and make your journey, from Tribeca to Flushing, The Bronx to Coney Island, and all you need is Google Maps or a city planner to make the journey so much easier. I got the hang of it pretty quickly and loved that I could catch the A train back to my hotel. It’s definitely a city where you don’t need a car, even more so than London and sitting in a subway car wasn’t half as boring as sitting on the tube. At every stop, the aesthetic and the people were so intriguing, I guess being a tourist makes it more fun, but at some stations, there was enough space on the platform for performers, musicians and even in the carriages, I would hear someone singing soulful melodies, which made my subway experience very cinematic and romantic too.

Catch Jazz, Festivals & Cultural Vibes

I was there in time to catch part of the Blue Note jazz festival, where I watched performances from Taylor McFerrin and Laura Mvula. This particular event was in Central Park, another cool location to visit. There are definitely a lot of cultural things to get involved in, like the various museums/galleries and parks that often host events. The jazz scene in New York is renowned, so if you’re into jazz, visit the Blue Note jazz club, and it’s easy to find a lot of trendy bars and clubs in the different boroughs. I felt like every area I entered had a different voice, and apart from Broadway and the theatre culture offered up there, every turn through the grid was like entering a different habitat.

Iconic Tourist Spots Without the Crowds

Whether you’re a newbie to the city or an experienced traveller, checking out the tourist spots can still be fun. I did visit Times Square early in the day, which was better and obviously less crowded than going at night. A good thing about that part of Manhattan is that it’s quite central, so you can easily walk to Bryant Park, for instance, if you need a pleasant place to sit and maybe eat. There’s also a Whole Foods by the park for all who need groceries and healthy snacks. Other tourist spots include the Rockefeller Center, where I saw a stunning sculpture by Jeff Koons. The various parks like Washington Square, Madison Square and the one recommended to me, Flushing Meadows Corona, in Queens. So you can equally enjoy the concrete and historic architecture and still immerse yourself in rural and botanical goodness. I did quite a bit of shopping, of course, but didn’t really check out any other malls besides Macy’s.

Vegan Food Crawl: By Chloe, Pizza & More

Last but certainly not least for me is the food crawl I embarked on while there. As I annonced on my Snapchat story the entire time I was there, “The food was amazing”, and yes, I ate vegan in New York. NYC is very vegan-friendly, and there were more options than in London, fast food, supermarket snacks, and almost every restaurant was vegan-friendly, not simply counting the strictly vegan places. I took advantage of the American portion sizes, and I tried to eat a range of food so I could try something new each day, all while staying relatively healthy. If you’re not strictly vegan, of course, there’s a ton of range, and you can enjoy the iconic and authentic meals. One of my favourite places that I discovered and definitely miss was a chain restaurant, ‘By. Chloe’. Delicious plant-based food with no compromise on the taste. It was nice to walk into decently sized restaurants with 100% vegan food daily, and they had quite a few locations, so I checked more than one place out; both had good food and great service. I fell in love with their Quinoa taco, and their cupcakes were delish too. I also ate pizza at John’s of Bleecker Street and sushi, as well as a lot of kombucha.

I feel like there’s a lot left to explore in New York; it’s a cool and beautiful city, which actually made me appreciate city life and how you can always be a tourist, regardless of your connection to the place; there’s always more to discover.