Last August, on a whim, I booked a surf vacation to Costa Rica and little did I know that this trip was going to be an experience of a life time. I figured that I was going to spend every second of my week in the water surfing, piecing my limited surf experience together and learn how to wipeout in style. However, my trip to Costa Rica last October blew any expectation of a surf vacation out of the water. I met some amazing people at the place I stayed at, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp (check this place out, they are AMAZING and tell them I sent you!), and even learned some cool style tips to perfect my wipeout.

Thanks to Facebook, I have stayed in touch with a lot of my surf buddies from Costa Rica, visited some of them in the good ole USA and even reunited with them on a return trip back to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. One of my favorites from the trip was Laurie, my “West Coast Mother”. Laurie is from the San Francisco area and we instantly bonded from the first paddle out. Since we left the beautiful waves of Costa Rica we have stayed in touch, and I have even visited her out in California.

Fast forward several months later, I decided it was finally time for me to play host and try to repay the kindness and love that Laurie has bestowed upon me. Last weekend, Laurie and her amazing daughter came to visit me in the big apple aka NYC. This trip was the first time for both of them in NYC and of course I had to show them a good time (talk about pressure!!). For several weeks I contemplated and made lists of things that “cool tourists” would do in NYC. After review and consultation with Laurie, we finalized the plan, but you know of course we did not stick exactly to it! I am now pleased to finally share the “NYC Cool Tourist Itinerary”. If you have any questions, let me know and I am more than happy to answer or give suggestions on NYC!

NYC Cool Tourist Itinerary:

Day 1:

• Brooklyn Bridge: Take subway to Brooklyn: catch B/D/N/Q for a good view of Brooklyn Bridge as you cross the East River
• Grimaldi’s Pizza for Lunch
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory or Jacques Torres
• Walk Brooklyn Bridge
• Subway to Staten Island Ferry to see Statue of Liberty
• NYC Trade Center Memorial (make sure you get advance tickets)
• Donavon Frankenreiter concert @Brooklyn Bowl

Day 2:

• Beach and Surfing in Rockaway (check out my posts Rocka-where and Escape Plan for New Yorkers)
• Highline and Chelsea Market
• NYC Iconic Bars: White Horse Tavern and McSoreley’s

Day 3:

• Breakfast at Amy’s Bread or Sullivan Street Bakery
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (check out the roofdeck!)
• Rush tickets for Broadway Show (box office opens at 12PM)
• Lunch at Carnegie Deli
• Broadway Show: Jersey Boys
• Walk down to Times Square
• Grand Central Station, NY Public Library, Byrant Park
• La Birreria for drinks and Shake Shack for dinner
• Magnolia Cupcakes for dessert

Day 4:

• Today show @Rockefeller Plaza
• Visit Empire State Building
• Central Park Bike Tour (Bike Loop in Central Park, Hudson River Park & Boat Basin, Lincoln Center)
• Frying Pan

Enjoy friends!

XOs

Kristen