Welcome to New York! For me, this is one of the cities that I want to live in. Imagine living near to famous places like in movie scenes, sirens around, fast pace environment, hyped streets, and astonishing lights, it is all startling. Alicia Keys is right it is indeed a pocketful of dreams. So, here’s my 8 Remarkable Spots in NYC For First Time Visitors. Also, please check out a quick travel video of our NYC tour back in May 2019.

New York was the highlight of our interstate trip in 2019. Main reason: We went to watch LANY Live in Manhattan. It’s a very memorable experience since it was my very first concert to attend to outside the country and witness it with my sister who influenced me to stan LANY. This became our fave trio. I will write a separate blog about LANY and the concerts we’ve attended.

So of course, aside from the LANY concert, we roam around NYC and visited the following remarkable spots.

1. Flatiron Building

Flatiron is one of the sophisticated dramatic-looking buildings in the city. It is popular for photographers for its historic details and Renaissance architecture. The landmark is literally shaped like the clothes’ flat iron. The 22-storey building is built generally for offices hence, touring inside is restricted but, the lobby is open for public visit. There are a lot of things to do in the Flatiron District. It is also near to Madison Square Park, Union Park, and Gramercy Park.

2. The Lotte New York Palace

If you love Gossip Girl, you will appreciate this iconic palace – the Serena Van Der Woodson’s crib. We were driving around the city when I spotted this place and my XOXO heart melted. But actually, The Lotte (pronounced Loh-tey) New York Palace is a five-star hotel in NYC that is famous for its luxurious style with a combination of old and modern-day designs. Gossip Girl Package Tour at the Lotte NY is interesting and highly recommended for huge fans of GG.

3. Statue of Liberty

When people heard about New York City, they will highly associate it with this famous landmark – the Statue of Liberty National Monument. We intendedly skipped getting close to Lady Liberty due to our limited visit hours. Instead, we chose to cruise across the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to see a panoramic view of New York and New Jersey. A selfie with this iconic statue is I think a great souvenir to remember that you had the chance to meet Lady Liberty.

4. 9/11 Memorial Park Ground Zero

It felt strange when we reached this remarkable spot knowing that there are so many victims have fallen due to the attack. I personally bid prayers to pay respect and spent the time learning more about the event. There are two large pools that represent the Twin Tower. They printed the names of the victims to commemorate. Visiting the Memorial ground is free but, a fee may apply when entering the  National September 11th Museum.

5. WALL St.

Who would have thought that we would walk down the street where the largest stock exchange in the world lies and the trading actions were actually happening at that time. Also, it makes me remember the movie, The Wolf of Wall Street that at any moment I could have encountered a big-time stock trader. Anyway, it is just my imagination and it was overwhelming as if the world economy goes around it. It is also a free tour and it is an eight-block-long street.

6. Empire State

Here’s another remarkable spot and found myself singing Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind because you know, New York is a concrete jungle where dreams are made of and there’s nothing you can’t do. 😅 Enough said, Empire State is the nickname of the State of New York where it symbolizes the state and the country in terms of innovation, technological prowess, and economic strength. There are tours available to explore the building and visit the observatory decks to view NYC skyline.

7. Brooklyn Bridge

This is another famous and memorable spot in the city which they consider as an opportunity pathway to Manhattan. It also signifies American and Italian cultures. The beauty of this suspension bridge during Golden Hour makes it one of the most Instagrammable spots in New York. However, to capture the best angles, it is highly recommended to come early morning to avoid the rush and the crowd. Maybe just apply a filter to get the Golden Hour vibe.

8. Times Square

This is the best remarkable spot for me during our short trip to NYC. We spent most of the night here to eat, shop, hang-out, and walk down the street with bright LED panels around. It feels like Friday Night to get some time off and to de-stress.

There are more remarkable spots in NYC to mention and it will be my reason to go back to this city. If you have other interesting spots to share, please send me a message and let’s talk.

Visiting the USA soon and need a tourist visa? Check out my post on how I got my US Tourist Visa with a series guide and interview experience.