I believe there are two kinds of people who live in and around New York City: those who never visit the tourist sights unless out-of-town family come to visit and those who immerse themselves in everything a tourist would want to see. I am one of the latter. I grew up just eight miles west of the George Washington Bridge and it was common for my parents to take my brother and me to see the attractions people traveled thousands of miles to enjoy.
Part of this is due to the fact that my father, running his own business, always felt as though he couldn’t be away for an extended period of time, so he would take his vacation as Mondays over the summer. Sometimes we would drive and spend a three day weekend away someplace, but just as often we would trek into the city to spend the day at the Museum of Natural History or the South Street Seaport or some other locale teeming with tourists.
Although both of my parents also grew up just outside of the five boroughs of New York City, only one of them blended in as a true New Yorker. My mother, having worked in Manhattan at FAO Schwarz as a doll buyer, always fit right in. My father, on the other hand, carried his camera around his neck and always looked the part of the tourist. It was easy for us to follow right along and be tourists with him. And yet, he had an insider’s ease in New York City, as well. Between the two of them, my parents always found ways to combine the traditional sights with experiences the visitors would never have known about.
For a few years, I, like my mother, worked in Manhattan. She taught me to look up at the skyline whenever the bus would curve around the helix on the approach to or departure from the Lincoln Tunnel, and to this day, I never tire of the views of New York, whether from afar or from within the beautiful parks or majestic buildings. Whenever friends come to visit, I do play the tour guide, and I always enjoy that, too. One friend visits every few years and each time, I try to take her to see something new. We’ve had some great adventures in New York over the years.
Throughout my blog, I will be writing about different sights in New York City. If there’s something you’d like to visit but you want me to write about it first, or a favorite place you haven’t seen in many years, let me know in the comments. I’m happy to explore on your behalf.