Could it really be possible to visit The City That Never Sleeps at a slow pace and gain an experience not quite the expected yet unforgettable?
Could it really be possible to escape the hustle-and-bustle and spend a weekend of downtime in the streets of Manhattan?
Absolutely, yes. If you’re like me who prefers to travel slow and doesn’t mind missing out on (quite a lot) of popular things, then you must know that it doesn’t take much to enjoy any place as long as you’re gaining an enjoyable experience that’s authentically your own.
My intention was to enjoy my time in New York at my own pace and to appreciate it no matter what—and I did, despite a majority of feedback about it being overcrowded/too loud. Those things were inevitable in a bustling city so I simply accepted it and took it on with a more positive outlook hence, my first (and definitely not my last) New York experience was truly unforgettable.
Traveling on my own for the very first time was definitely the cherry on top. I had mixed emotions about it on my first night but woke up the following day feeling ready to conquer the world!
At the end of the day, I often remind myself of my one and only intention: to slow down and reconnect.
Instead of feeling tired, I must come home feeling inspired.
I took the trip right at the end of the Summer and I woke up to Fall Solstice ’18 on my first morning in NYC. Sweet! Fall foliage was just starting and urban greenery was still lush with pops of color from lovely blooms.
I’ll be writing more about my visit (with helpful details such as taking the subway which is based on my silly mishaps) on a future blog post but in the meantime, here are some visual representations of my slow and unforgettable NYC trip.
May this gallery inspire you to travel solo with the intention to take the trip to your own liking regardless of popularity just like my own kind of Manhattan experience: exhilarating yet relaxed (if that even makes sense), slow and connected — embracing my own kind of “New York Moment”.
emme hope 