getting lost in new york city

It was a few days before our trip to NYC. We do not exactly know how it happened, but this much needed getaway snuck up on us. As in we turned around, and there it was, starring at us in the face. And, to be quite honest, we had no plans and no bags packed. Our conversations throughout the week went something like this. Where do you think we should visit? Um, I don't know. Have you looked at a map? No, I sure have not. Do you know where our hotel is located. Uh, no. So, we decided instead of packing our days with an absurd amount of things to see and do, we would get lost. As in getting lost in the candy and toy stores, getting lost in the streets and avenues, getting lost in the lights at Time Square and Rockefeller Center, getting lost walking hand-in-hand in uptown, getting lost in department stores, getting lost snuggled up in Central Park and getting lost and tangled falling more in love in one of the greatest cities during one of our favorite times of the year! So, we did just that. We got lost in New York City.

(The photos are a mix with the point-and-shoot and my Canon 5D.) Enjoy...

Our view as we arrived into NYC!!!



This is where we stayed. We highly recommend Hotel Wellington. Not only is it central to EVERYTHING, but the staff and hotel itself has a certain New York charm to it that we loved!



I'm pretty sure this is how we spent the first hour of our time in NYC: gazing at the architecture that NYC offers!



Times Square was absolutely insane! This area of the city NEVER sleeps! Seriously.





We ran into some of our favorite childhood characters!



We ventured over to 34th Street and 5th Avenue. This is what I like to call "shopping heaven." The ever so famous Macy's is on this street. The best part were the window displays. It is huge in NYC especially at the big department stores like Lord and Taylor and Macy's. I could have gazed at them all day long!



Macy's big theme this year was "Believe." It made me think of Miracle on 34th Street instantly, which is one of my favorite Christmas movies!



Being the book nerd I am, I about lost it when I saw the New York Public Library! WOW is all I can say!



Our stop at Rockefeller Center was the whole reason for this little trip. When the movie Bucket List came out, we of course made our own Bucket List. And, on that said Bucket List, we put "to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in NYC during Christmas." Well, we can officially scratch this off the list!



We could not go to NYC and stay in Theatre District without seeing a musical, so we opted for none other than one of my favorites: Phantom of the Opera!



The perfect ending to our first day in NYC: seeing Hugh Jackman IN PERSON! Yes, you read right. Picture Times Square (full of hundred and hundreds of people) BLOCKED off, red carpet, Bryan pulling out the camcorder, people screaming, Hugh Jackman looking ever so handsome (ok, unbelievably HOT!) and me screaming like a 13 year old girl who just saw Justin Bieber. Not even kidding!



Cute hubby and I. It's a bit fuzzy, but I LOVE this photo! Livin' in the now.



Some Christmas love in NYC!



I love the fruit stands spread throughout Manhattan. Not to mention, they looked delicious!



Our first subway experience was a success. We managed to not get lost!



Every one of our mornings began with a little Starbucks!



And, then we ventured out to see the beautiful Lady Liberty!



The gorgeous city skyline!



We could not help ourselves!







After the Statue of Liberty, we hopped over to Ellis Island where we made our way into the Registry Room (same room where a scene from Hitch was filmed)!



Our trip could not be complete without paying our respect and a moment of silence to the brave ones who gave their lives up so selflessly on 9/11.



My most favorite part of the trip was our bike ride through Central Park where we got to see some of our favorite TV and movie spots!!!



Elf and Home Alone 2 were filmed at this very spot, which happen to be other favorite Christmas movies of mine!





This pretty much sums up how I feel in the present: free, happy and loving this beautiful life!



I think Bryan feels the same way!



A little something to remember John Lennon!



We found out these plaques belong to an Adopt-A-Bench program to help keep care of Central Park (which I think is great!). The cost: $7500 for one plaque!!!



Our evening would not be complete without stopping at the ever so delicious Nizza Italian restaurant in Hell's Kitchen District! Not only is the vibe of the place fun and trendy, but it has an ENTIRE menu for gluten-free folks like me. They had Bryan and I floored. The service was fabulous, and the food...well, it blew my taste buds out of the water! If you ever made your way to NYC, stop by Nizza. You will NOT be disappointed. (I was not paid by any means to write this...we just LOVED the restaurant, food and everything in between.)



I made my first ever visit to a Cathedral, and I was speechless. The architecture, details and beauty within the Cathedral were breathtaking!



It's no secret that we are two kids stuck in 20 something bodies. Of course, we had to visit the toy stores. Preferably one that we love. Two words: FAO Schwartz!



We stumbled across some "LOVE."



Along with the toy stores come the ever so famous Dylan's Candy Store! I about lost it in there! I'm ashamed to admit that I may or may not have been as bad as the three year old standing next to me at one point.



How cute is all of this?!



You don't go to Manhattan and not make a little visit to Magnolia Bakery! For all of you gluten-free friends out there, they have gluten-free treats there for you to enjoy as well!!! It was music to my ears!



On a walk back to our hotel, we saw the Toys R' Us in Times Square and thought we would peek inside to see what the fuss is about. Ya'll, it did not disappoint. Aside from the ferris wheel, this is candy land toys style for people of ALL ages!



Our last stop was at Grand Central Terminal! The inside of this place is beautiful. We could have sat in there and people watched all day long.





NYC, we miss you already!



If you stayed with me until the end, thank you thank you thank you! And, a BIG thank you to Travel Concepts for another fabulous vacation! Not only do I love sharing our traveling adventures, but this is a great way for us to remember the small, big and inbetween moments we shared during our stay in New York City!