The Best View in NYC- Top of the Rock

For someone slightly afraid of heights I do love to see a city from above and New York is one city that you’ve not really seen till you’ve got up high.

On my first trip to NYC I went up the Empire State Building (which was amazing) but on a recent trip, I’d heard a lot about Top of the Rock and I wasn’t leaving till I had gone up there to see what all the hype was about.

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Opened in 2005 the Top of the Rock is an observation area literally on top of the Rockefeller Centre. The observation area is across 3 floor 67th, 69th and 70th (no idea what’s on the 68th!). You can visit every day of the year and the usual opening times are 8 am to Midnight with the last elevator going up at 11 pm but do check the website just to make sure. I visited at lunchtime but I’ve heard and seen amazing photos during the golden hour, sunset and in the evening with the city lights shining brightly. New York is one of those cities that you know is pretty darn special but once you get up top and look out across it you have a whole new appreciation for it. I could have had hours up there taking in the views and filling my memory card with pictures.

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On the 67th and 69th floor there are big panes of glass for protection and to stop the wind but if you take the stairs to the 70th floor you get a sweeping unobstructed 360 view of the city. You can see Central Park, the streets of midtown, Chrysler building,  Statue of liberty in the distance and the best is that you get a view of new york with the Empire State Building standing tall and strong in the foreground. Even on a cloudy grey day, it was the most beautiful view. You should note that is you are visiting during the Christmas holidays sadly you can’t see the ice skating and Christmas tree from up top but you can spend some time taking in the festive spirit once you’ve come back down to street level.

It’s a popular attraction for millions of visitors every year. It’s also a popular place for engagements and wedding photos. We were lucky enough to see a couple up there having some pretty spectacular wedding photos. Who wouldn’t want the NYC skyline in their wedding album! The tickets run on a timed system so you need to book for a certain time however once you are up there you can stay as long or as little as you want. I’d recommend at least an hour.  We booked online and you can do that or at the box office with several different options for tickets availabl. Do check out their website but a standard adult ticket is $36 which is brilliant value for an almost priceless view.

The main entrance is on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue. You can’t miss it there is a big red carpet out the front and likely a queue of people. The queue does move fairly quickly and be ready for security checks when you get inside.

We visited late December and even with the foggy and grey skies, it’s still so beautiful…

Central Park is there under the clouds I promise

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I’d seen this shot on Instagram so obvs had to copy

Looking for other things to do in NYC then check out our post on The High Line and The Brooklyn Bridge.

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The best view of NYC from Top of the Rock on The Wandering Darlings

Be like a local in San Francisco – 5 Best Things to do

Every touristy guidebook lists Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Bridge. And that’s where the majority of the visitors to San Francisco go, and it shows, those spots are all insanely crowded. But if you want to go where the locals go, you’re in the right place!

Here’s a list of the 5 best things to do in San Francisco from a local’s point of view.

Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge

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The cost to drive across the bridge these days is so expensive (at least $6.75/car), we tend to avoid it unless we’re going up to Marin. With that said, it’s still worth it to bike across the bridge! You can rent a bike from the shops by Fisherman’s Wharf which includes a ferry ticket back from Sausalito and a map.

It’s great that they provide the one-way return ticket since after you bike all the way there, your legs will be tired and you’ll be able to rest on the boat!

Angel Island

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In a way, this island is stuck under the shadows of Alcatraz because it is much less popular amongst tourists since Al Capone didn’t exactly live here. But if you’re into hiking and great views, this is the place to be!

There are several trails that take you around the island and to the panoramic viewpoint, from here you can get a 360 view of the San Francisco Bay Area. On a clear day, you can see from Marin county all the way down to Silicon Valley.

This island was also once home to the “Ellis Island of the West,” where many Asian immigrants to the United States were once held awaiting approval into the country. At the Immigration Station museum here, you will learn about their lives detained on the island and see Chinese poetry they carved into the walls.

Ferry Building/Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

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This is one of my favorite places to go in the city! Mainly because I love food, but also because I love the selection here.

Any day of the week, you can go inside the Ferry Building and be treated with lots of stalls selling food and various types of housewares. My favorite stalls are Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream, Acme Bread Company, and Hog Island Oyster Company.

If you’re lucky enough to go on a Tuesday (10am-2pm), Thursday (10am-2pm), or Saturday (8am-2pm), there will also be an outdoor market where you can buy cooked food as well as fresh produce. There are also stalls selling fish and flowers so there is a lot of variety in offerings.

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

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If you’re a fan of Antoni Gaudi, like I am, and you’re missing his insanely gorgeous mosaics. San Francisco’s got a spot for you!

This local gem is hidden within a residential neighbourhood, the tiles are beautiful and you can see the amount of work that went into creating the mosaic. They were created when neighbours banded together to beautify the community by sponsoring handmade tiles including shapes of animals, fish, and shells.

After you walk up the tiled steps, you can continue walking up additional concrete steps to Grandview Park to get a view of the Sunset district and the Pacific Ocean.

Twin Peaks

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I’ve saved the best for last! Point blank, this is one of my favorite places in San Francisco because you get the most amazing views of the city.

This spot is beautiful day or night. During the day, you can see Marin county, Golden Gate Bridge, East Bay, and best of all, downtown San Francisco. At night, the views of the sparkling lights of Downtown and the main thoroughfare of Market Street are gorgeous.

Twin Peaks is a spot you must do on a clear day, on a cloudy or foggy day there will be nothing to see.

Hope you enjoyed these local spots in San Francisco! For a great 2-3 day weekend trip itinerary, check out A Weekend Away: San Francisco.

This post was kindly written by a lovely Wandering Darling- Constance fromThe Adventures of Panda Bear. I’m sure you loved what you’ve read as much as I have so check out her blog and social media channels with the links below for more great information and inspiration

Author Biography

Constance is a graphic/web designer and blogger living in the San Francisco Bay Area, where technology rules the world. She and her boyfriend, Jimmy, are always in a state of wanderlust, looking forward to their next adventure eating their way around the world. Follow them on their blog, The Adventures of Panda Bear.

https://theadventuresofpandabear.com

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Globetrotters- I Dream of Travel

 Isn’t ‘I Dream of Travel’ such an awesome name for a travel blog!! Everyone dreams of travel at one stage in their life so it’s super relatable. Lisa is the dreamer than runs I Dream of Travel and I’ve had so much fun getting to know more about her and her site.

Whilst I Dream of Travel is still a newer site it’s got a great layout and fabulous content. You can also tell from the headings that there is some super exciting content still to come. So get subscribing!

My other half is a huge music fan and has been desperate to get to Memphis for as long as I’ve known him. Lisa’s post has given us some great inspiration and I love the inclusion of bars and restaurants. Defo want to check out that speakeasy!
She has some posts coming soon about Savannah and Chicago two cities I know next to nothing about so can’t wait to read more!

Reading others advice is one of my most loved parts of this series and Lisa’s is one of the best answers we’ve had. I love her insight in how every trip comes in three stages and most importantly you need to pay attention to all three. Usually, we see the planning and post trip as the annoying or sad part but really they are just as important as the physically going away. It really is such an awesome piece of advice for travellers.

Here is the lovely Lisa from I Dream of Travel 


Hi, I’m Lisa! I started out my adulthood as a young, single high school social studies teacher. Therefore, pretty poor. Therefore, pretty rooted at home. Long story short I ended up a wife and a mom, with a job that had me frequently travelling all over the country. While I still find myself a wannabe world traveller, I’ve also come to realise there’s so much to discover right here in my home country. So, for now, I’m making the most of that (with a few international trips sprinkled in here and there)!

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
While I thoroughly enjoy the journey (researching and planning), what I enjoy most about travelling is exploring the unknown. Crazy, since I do a whole lot of research and reading before even the most mundane of trips. Despite all of the planning, I always end up feeling overwhelmed when I travel. But in a good way. No amount of reading, watching, listening or planning can prepare you for what it’s like to actually be somewhere you’ve never been before. How cool.

Why do you think travelling is important?
Travelling is important because of the memories you take home with you. You can keep those for a lifetime. I first thought of this in regards to my children- their material possessions were quickly outgrown or just didn’t last, but they loved to talk about our trips. The same is true for adults. It’s the best money spent.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?



The is one of my favourite travel pictures because it represents travelling with my family and also just having a carefree spirit when it comes to travelling. It’s my son Parker jumping into Lake Ontario. We literally just pulled over so he could jump in!

Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
This small beach town girl loves a trip to the city. No, the mountains. Wait, the country…

Who do you usually travel with?
Everyone. Throughout the year I’m fortunate to have the occasion and opportunity to travel with my husband, with my family, with my mom and/or parents, with work colleagues and sometimes I also get to squeeze in a trip with friends- sometimes girlfriends, other times couples.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Every trip has three phases: before, during and after. Pay attention to all three parts. Plan well- learn the history, what do the travel sites say you should do, what to the locals actually do. Travel well- get up early, go all day, eat well, make time to relax and revive, and gather meaningful mementoes and memories. Follow-up well- organise your pictures and mementoes and update your trip notes and your social media accounts (and I don’t mean just sharing pictures- more later in my blog!) all before life gets too crazy again.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
Still not able to laugh at this yet, but here it goes. After an incredible family vacation in Toronto, Canada and the Niagara Falls region, we rushed over the border to the Buffalo airport only to find out we were at the wrong airport. Who knew little Niagara Falls had an airport? The airline advertised their flights out of Niagara/Buffalo (lesson learned). We took a very expensive cab ride to the correct airport. As we threw our licenses on the counter, the lady flipped her sign to “Closed.” She would not check our bags. We had to take them to the checkpoint and then to the gate. Problem is- you can’t take liquids through the checkpoint. So we had to leave our hundreds of dollars worth of wine from Niagara on the Lake area vineyards…and some Canadian maple syrup.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Today I’d have to say Denver, Colorado, during the late fall. Snow on the mountains, still warm enough to hike. You get a little bit of both worlds- the city and the mountains. Downtown is full of local fun, yet Boulder, Colorado Springs and the mountains are all just within an hour or two drive. Ask me tomorrow and I’m guessing I’d say, Puerto Rico.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
I almost hate to even mention it, because it really is a sweet place to visit. It’s Amelia Island, FL. It has a reputation for being a great girl’s weekend or romantic weekend getaway. There are plenty of gorgeous Bed and Breakfasts and horse drawn carriage rides, but it’s really a tiny little downtown. Not many restaurants and very little nightlife. We ran out of new things to do, eat and explore very quickly. But great for an overnighter!

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Paris. Sounds cliché I know. But it’s a bit more personal for me. My mom was a Navy brat and lived there in her mid-teens. I can’t wait to go with her and see all the places I’ve heard about my whole life- the off base apartment she hated (why couldn’t she just live in Military Housing, Petit Beauregard with her friends?), the commissary (Bel Manoir), the site where Paris American High School was, the teen club and all the places she went to when her and her girlfriends snuck out and took the train to downtown Paris.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My list. All that research, reading and planning I do- it goes into a list on my phone. I try to sort it in a logical order based on where I will be, when I’ll be there and around reservations, appointments or other scheduled events. I save addresses, phone numbers, operating hours, etc. Don’t want to waste time floundering around unsure of how to get somewhere, or show up too early or too late to a destination.

What can readers find on your blog/Instagram?
I just started a travel blog/site: idreamoftrvl.com. While it includes a blog, my plan is to include so much more- my research secrets, travel tips and destination itineraries. And of course travel photos! I also post travel photos to my Instagram account: idreamoftrvl. I try to include insight to travel experiences and why followers might want to check them out when they find themselves there. I’m also on Twitter @idreamoftrvl sharing articles that align with my travel style and goals.

You can find more from Lisa here.
Blog
Instagram
Twitter 
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For more from our Globetrotters series click here

The High Line in NYC 

On my most recent trip to NYC one thing I really wanted to experience was The High Line. I’d heard about it from friends, witnessed lust worthy snaps on Instagram and started seeing it pop up on all the ‘must see in NYC’ lists on Pinterest. So I wasn’t going to be leaving the big apple on my next visit until I had got there!

The High Line is a linear urban park in Chelsea and the Meat Packing District of Manhattan. It’s been upcycled from an old disused railway that was due for demolition. A preservation society worked with the council to turn it into what we now know as the High Line. It’s such a clever concept and I’m sure there is lots of other parks like this all over the world. I have seen pictures of one in Paris and believe it was the initial inspiration for The High Line. I mean seriously what a clever clogs to think of having a park running amongst the high rises. It’s kinda like playing in the sky just below the clouds. They must have got some funny looks when they first proposed it.
It’s roughly just over a mile long and is a really easy walk. It’s just so beautiful and quickly became one of my favourite places!! Sights of the city and river all around you yet you feel like you aren’t surrounded by one of the biggest cities in the world. You get such a different view of the skyline and a little insight into NYC away from the hub of midtown.
It can get busy so you may want to try and avoid mid day but to me the people added to the experience. We saw some very interesting characters on our visit from excitable tourists, to NYC locals out running to Billy Connolly and even a lady taking her dog out for a walk in a pram. Taking the term furbaby a little too far.
Along with the city sights and the characters you also have wonderful views of the Hudson, street art dotted along the park and the actual tracks that have been preserved so you can see a glimpse into what it was in a previous life. It really has been executed so cleverly. There is a lot of benches along the line so always a place to sit if you want to take your time and breathe in your surroundings and or just to rest your weary legs.
I thoroughly loved our walk along the High Line and will ensure I go back again and again on my next visits. It really was a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of the NYC experience.
Here is my 5 things for your trip to the High Line

  1. Take your time you don’t need to rush here
  2. Observe. Look up, look down, look out, look EVERYWHERE
  3. Wrap up if visit in Autumn or winter it can get a little chilly especially by the Hudson
  4. Do a tour be it stargazing or food related or even try and witness an outside opera
  5. Take in the history of the urban park. Notice the railway sleepers in the boardwalk, look at the buildings and structures surrounding.

Have you been to the High Line or a similar park? If so would love to hear your thoughts!

There is so many great places to explore in New York. One I would have loved to visit would have been Williamsburg (save that for next time!) but you should check out this great guide from our friends at Do You Salut