Last weekend, I popped into New York City for a quick getaway. We were fortunate enough to have sunny skies and breezy days during our entire visit. The trip was just what I needed to unplug and unwind, since these last few weeks have been filled with travel, conferences and meetings. Here’s my recap of the weekend in case you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple soon.

Restaurants:

Grand Banks. I’d highly recommend this oyster bar aboard a historic wooden schooner. I ordered a glass of rosé and their celebrated lobster roll. It was delicious and just what my soul needed. We opted to sit at the oyster bar where you have a clear view of the crashing waves and the New York City skyline. The historic boat does sway a good bit so if don’t have sea legs then just stop by for a cocktail. For more information, visit Grand Banks.

Tacombi. You can experience Tacomi practically anywhere in the city because of their numerous locations. Tacombi serves authentic Mexican food that you’d find in Yucatan. I enjoyed their Paloma with a healthy dose of tacos to sample!

Rosemary’s. One of my all time favorite restaurants in New York City is Rosemary’s. I love visiting their Greenwich Village location to taste their authentic pastas, foccacia breads and burrata cheese. I sat outside under their striped awnings while sipping on their well-known Capellini Spritz.

Things To Do:

911 Memorial and Museum. I’ve actually been to this museum right after they opened but Casey had yet to see it. The museum is hauntingly beautiful and a sobering reminder of that fateful day.

Mini Golf on Pier 25. I LOVE miniature golf so as soon as we passed a course on our way to Grand Banks, we just had to stop and play. Though I didn’t win, it was still a fun activity to pass the time.

Bike Ride Through Central Park. We stayed at The Pierre hotel on 5th Avenue and decided to rent bikes across the street at Central Park. It’s an easy bike ride with ice cream shops, live music and more along the way.

Blue Note Jazz. Every time that I visit a city, I try to find the best spots for live music. I booked two tickets at the Blue Note Jazz club in the West Village. It was spectacular. They have two shows almost every weekend (and weeknights) and it’s definitely a great spot to experience very talented musicians. We opted for the 10:30PM show.

Photography by Kelli Boyd