Smash or Pass? NYC Edition

Lizzy MacKay

This summer, I travelled to America to stay with family friends and to intern at a local company based in Connecticut. I was barely an hour away from New York, and thought I’d share some opinions on the famous landmarks of the Big Apple. So, here are some (unsolicited) opinions of what’s hot and what’s not in NYC.

First off, the classic Empire State Building. Situated right in the centre of Manhattan, it’s impossible to miss, and it is definitely worth seeing - it’s a very impressive skyscraper. Although, I would avoid going to the top - the queues are very long and it is very expensive, and once at the top, you see the Manhattan skyline without this iconic skyscraper. Instead, I went to the top of the Rockefeller Center. It was much less expensive, and you can see both the Empire State Building and all of Central Park. Secondly, let’s talk about Times Square. The answer is no. Avoid at all costs. It is permanently heaving with other tourists, but if Times Square is on your bucket list, it’s best in the eveningthe lights are so much more bearable at night.

Now, let’s talk about Lady Liberty herself. ‘The Statue of Liberty’ is definitely worth seeing - such a symbol of America should not be left unvisited. Now, my suggestion is to avoid visiting Ellis Island itself, unless you are passionate about seeing her up-close. Like everything in New York, it is very expensive and there are definitely other cheaper options. Like taking the Staten Island Ferry, arguably an attraction on its own. It is free, and runs frequently, taking a direct route directly past Lady Liberty.

On to one of my favourites: Central Park. This huge green space is one of the only places in the city that could give me any sense of calmness and serenity. It is so large and expansive, full of hidden lakes, ice rinks, carousels, statues and, of course, the Central Park Zoo, made most famous by the Madagascar film franchise. But mainly, the park is so great, because it provides a beautiful green escape from the rush and craziness of New York itself.

Typically on a gap year, travelling is often done in combination with working abroad - with the availability of working holiday visas for many countries reasonably cheap and accessible, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, working abroad ensures stability and invaluable experience for backpackers everywhere. Another option is a tourist visa, for Southeast Asia and European interrailing trips. The Southeast Asia backpackers are easy to spot: they’re the ones with the harem pants. Countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia are affordable to travel around without having to take a job while travelling. This is similar to the interrailing route, although with Brexit, it is no longer as simple as it has been in the past to travel around Europe.

So why do so many people say that they’ve “found themselves” while travelling? Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve spoken to a lot of other travellers about this experience. We’ve all concluded that however cliché it is, there is so much more to this statement. Travelling to a different country alone without parents or family is such an uncomfortable experience for most of us, yet being surrounded by strangers in hostel rooms and constantly physically surrounded by so many different opinions and cultures really opens your eyes to other perspectives. Not only this, but learning the skill of independence is crucial to backpacking. Everyday, it is essential to wake up and plan your own day, your own meals and your own activities. It is not always as easy as it sounds. Therefore, “finding yourself” becomes about finding your own voice and sense of identity within a completely different context (and often continent).

So, if I haven’t persuaded you yet, why should you take a gap year? Gap years provide invaluable life experiences and help you develop key life skills, such as independence, confidence, and most significantly, a sense of your own voice. Although my own travels were cut short by Covid, those three months in Australia taught me so much about myself, and gave me a sense of reassurance and confidence that I’m not sure I could’ve found any other way. Oh, and the elephant harem pants are cute, too.

An alternative to Central Park is Washington Square Park. Situated in downtown Manhattan, this much smaller park is also very recognisable from many films and TikToks of people interviewing strangers with a microphone. It is also a park filled with creativity, and there is always a musician or an artist creating something beautiful somewhere in the Square.

Moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn, we have the Brooklyn Bridge. The architecture is breathtaking, and it offers impressive views of Manhattan and of the huge ‘Welcome’ sign in glowing red neon.

Next, is The Met. Iconic for many reasons, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is not just famous for being where the Met Gala is hosted. Inside, it contains a massive collection of ancient and often rare artefacts, along with reconstructions of regal British country house rooms, and an Ancient Egyptian temple. Although it is very pricey, it is definitely worth the money to spend a day roaming around such a massive and fascinating museum. It has become so recognisable from TV shows and movies, that the price is (almost) worth it just for sightseeing purposes. Grand Central Station was my train station when I would go into the city. It is so beautiful and especially breathtaking, and probably my favourite train station that I have ever visited. Definitely a smash, for the beautiful starry ceiling alone.

I won’t lie, Radio City Music Hall is a pass. Sure, it’s a pretty amazing place, but not worth visiting unless there is a concert happening there. However, I love the sign - definitely one of my favourite neon signs in New York City.

Finally, I have to talk about the Subway. This was equally the bane of my existence and the joy of my time in New York. I had some of the scariest moments of my time in America occur in the subway cars, but equally all of my favourite and most “that’s so New York” stories come from these trains. I once heard someone describe the Subway as a rare opportunity for various people of New York to be together and to share this experience of moving around the city by train. I think that captures the essence of not just the Subway, but of New York as a whole: a place of shared love and experience for such a unique city.

WORDS ARE EVERYWHERE, literally, and it can be difficult sometimes to realise their impact because we hear them so much in a day, week, month, and year.

And slipping up is normalsometimes, if you’ve never come across a word used in a certain context before, it can be a surprise to know that word has a damaging effect on certain people.

Being in the public eye, however, means that sometimes you face some backlash for using a word - is it always warranted? Luckily for me, two celebrities have recently fallen into a debate about this, so I’m going to compare the two and see when it’s warranted backlash, and when it’s maybe not so warranted.

Taylor Swift recently released Midnights, her 10th studio album, and released the single ‘Anti-Hero’ alongside the album, which revolves around the idea of having an alter ego focused on being self-deprecating and supporting her own downfall - Taylor’s alter ego is shown encouraging