I'm a New York City local who took a staycation in Times Square. Here are 4 big mistakes I saw tourists make.

Don't block traffic to try and take photos.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

• This winter, I spent two days in one of New York City's biggest tourist spots: Times Square.
• I noticed people holding up traffic, not wearing proper footwear, and touching dirty surfaces.

I've been living in New York City for five years, and I grew up on Long Island, just 30 miles or so from Manhattan. But I try to avoid Times Square — one of New York City's biggest tourist destinations — as much as I can.

But this winter, I took a staycation there when I spent a night at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

While there, I tried to put myself in the shoes of a tourist. I walked through Times Square, visited the M&M's store, the Disney store, and the Krispy Kreme flagship, and I ate a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe.

However, it was impossible to take the local out of me, and I couldn't help noting some of the mistakes I saw tourists making, from wearing improper footwear to touching some of the dirtiest surfaces available.

Here are the four biggest mistakes I saw tourists make in Times Square.