- As a Midwesterner, I was hesitant to visit New York City because of the crowds.
- I ended up falling in love with the convenience and glitz of Manhattan in 2019.
A friend invited me to New York City for her 50th birthday in May 2019.
I didn't have any real desire to visit Manhattan — in fact, as someone who resides in the rural Midwest, I was anxious about visiting a city that's home to millions of people.
I live on a working farm in rural Minnesota. Though we're located pretty close to a major highway, it tends to be quiet out here. Still, I wanted to celebrate my friend, and I was curious to explore a new-to-me destination.
Much to my surprise and delight, I fell in love with Manhattan during my trip.
I soon discovered the many delights of Manhattan
I'll never forget rounding the corner in a tour bus and catching sight of The New York Times building — that's when it hit me that I was in a place I'd seen in countless movies and beloved TV shows, like "Sex and the City."
From then on, everything about the trip was exciting, from trying on Louboutins (though sadly not buying them) to visiting the Statue of Liberty.
We toured the 9/11 memorial, where I shed an embarrassing amount of tears. We sipped Manhattans in Manhattan — more specifically, at Rockefeller Plaza. We even visited the bar where "Coyote Ugly" was filmed, though the dark dive bar didn't quite meet my expectations.
The crowds were manageable, and we even found a great Italian restaurant located right next to a sketchy-looking massage parlor. We spent a couple of hours enjoying charcuterie and Cabernet and talking with the bartender at the gorgeous, upscale bar.
We even had an encounter with a mysterious fashion designer, though we didn't find out who she was until much later.
Leaving NYC was harder than I expected
At the end of our five days in Manhattan, I was excited to see my hubby and our cat. But leaving behind the excitement and glamour of NYC was actually a bit of a struggle for me.
It was hard to go from having endless restaurants to only a handful, plus out where I live, we can't just walk around the corner and find three wine bars to choose from (or any, for that matter).
I surprised myself by falling in love with Manhattan, so much so that my friend and I visited again in 2022. And if I get another chance to visit? I'd go in a New York minute.