Stories Along The Way

What’s the best way to explore a new city?

We recently visited New York City for the second time. I honestly was a little worried about going because the city can feel overwhelming. There is so much to see, so many people, and so many ways to get around.

For me, one of the best ways to explore a big city like New York is to lean on public transportation. You don’t have the stress of driving, worrying about getting lost, or trying to find parking. Instead, you can actually look around and enjoy where you are.

When we visited New York, we stayed in New Jersey and took the ferry into Manhattan. I really enjoyed the ferry because it wasn’t just a way to get from one place to another. It became part of the experience. We were able to sit back and enjoy the view of the city from the water. At night, seeing Manhattan all lit up was beautiful. We didn’t have to worry about traffic or driving. We could simply enjoy the ride and the view.

Once we were in the city, we used the buses and subway, and we also did a lot of walking. Walking is another great way to explore because you see things you might miss if you are driving.

For me, exploring a city isn’t just about seeing the skyscrapers and all the big tourist attractions. It’s also about finding those special little places—the mom-and-pop restaurants, small shops, and places you weren’t necessarily looking for.

Planning ahead helps too. You don’t have to plan every minute, but having an idea of what you want to see can make a big city feel less overwhelming.

I also like the hop-on, hop-off bus. It gives you an overall tour of the city and helps you get an idea of where everything is. Then you can decide which places you want to go back to and explore more.

Most importantly, take your time and actually enjoy the city. Don’t rush from one place to another trying to fit everything into one trip. Walk around, stop somewhere that catches your attention, enjoy the view, and take in what is around you.

You don’t have to see everything.

Looking back, I think that was one of the biggest things I learned from this trip. New York felt overwhelming to me at first, but once I stopped thinking about everything we had to see and focused on enjoying where we were, it became a completely different experience. Some of my favorite moments weren’t the big attractions. They were riding the ferry and looking at the city lights, walking around, and finding little places along the way.

I think that’s how I want to explore any city now—not rushing to see everything, but taking the time to actually experience it.

Brooklyn Bridge