Stratford, Ontario

Canada isn’t really my favorite, and that is an understatement.  I’m a Detroiter, and Canada is my backyard; I’m only about twenty minutes from the border.  Not to mention that border security treat it like you’re attempting to break into Cuba or North Korea.

However, there is one small city in Ontario, Canada that has a very special place in my heart.  That place in Stratford, Ontario.

Stratford is the Broadway of Canada, home to the most impressive Shakespeare festival this theatre junkie has ever seen, and also hosts the largest repertory theatre in the world.  

I have travelled to Stratford, Ontario four times in my life, each time with my high school theatre company which provided a variety of experiences that would not be available to someone who travelled there just as a tourist.  We got exclusive tours of theaters, costume warehouses, acting workshops with the best of the best and advice with people in the business.  

I have had the opportunity to see seventeen shows at Stratford, some of my favorites including Cabaret, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest and Dangerous Liasons.

The city thrives off of theatre; everyone is an actor, director, writer, dancer, producer, technician, and so on.  The streets are crammed with little bistros, boutiques and cafés.

There is no place in the world quite like Stratford.
It is my safe haven.

Here is the home website for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival!
http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Default.aspx

LOVELY LODGINGS
Festival Inn-  I love this hotel.  The rooms are quite nice and there are tons of amenities:  indoor pool, billiards, poker tables- everything you could want.  Also, in the Anne Hathaway dining room, you will have the best hotel breakfast you could ever ask for.  Festival Inn is about a five minute drive outside of the heart of downtown Stratford

EXCELLENT EATING
Fellini’s-  Some of the best Italian/Mediterranean food I’ve ever had has come from Fellini’s (and I’ve been to Italy!).  Go for any meal of the day and make sure you leave room for dessert, especially the mini crème brûlée combo!  This is my favorite place to dine and be fabulous before a night at the theater.
http://www.fellinisstratford.com/

The Annex Room-  Lunch is my favorite here, especially the personal pizza menu!  I recommend the Chicken Caesar pizza.  This restaurant is very quiet and quaint, but I would not recommend it for picky eaters!
http://www.annexroom.com/index.html

Bentley’s-  Inn, restaurant, bar and spa.  Everything you could ever want in one!  Bentley’s is great for lunch.  Sit down at the bar and order the gourmet grilled cheese with red pepper tomato soup- comfort food at it’s best.  Awesome for a quick bite to eat for a matinee 
http://www.bentleys-annex.com/view.php?Home

I could go on for days and days about all of the excellent food that is to be found in Stratford.  Explore, and make sure you take advantage of so many non-chain spots.

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
The Festival Theatre- Many of the Shakespeare shows that I have seen were at the Festival.  There is so much history here!  Get a picture with the stature of Shakespeare outside, check out the awesome gift shop, and if you have an opportunity to take a tour of the backstage area, do it!

The Avon Theatre- The Avon is one of my most favorite theaters in the world.  Seeing a musical here is such a treat.  Beautiful architecturally, and situated nicely downtown, the Avon is a perfect place to see your first Stratford show.

The Green Room- This is my favorite shop downtown.  Anything you could ever want can be found here.  Knick-knacks, clothes, bags, toys, gag gifts… it’s just a fun place.  I never leave The Green Room without a purchase

Ireland

This was it… the holy grail of all of my adventures.  The trip I had been waiting for since I was a little girl.  A vacation to the glorified land I had heard my father speak of for years.  I was finally making it to Ireland.

Yes, what I have to say about the country is completely and totally biased, but it can’t be ignored that Ireland has something to offer for everyone: golf courses, pubs, medieval castles, pubs, beautiful coastlines… pubs.  What’s not to love?  

What sets Ireland apart from other countries is the hospitality and the beautiful people.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, can compare.  

The second I stepped off the plane in Dublin, I was greeted by cheery faces and felt at home immediately.  I enjoyed every second I was in Ireland- every cab ride, every good conversation shared over a pint with a local, each night spent dancing in the pubs to Johnny Cash with the adorable old Irishmen wanting to hear all about the States.  I never felt so welcomed anywhere.  Everywhere.

What I love most about Ireland, and really any country I visit, is spending time with the people.  By talking to the locals, you would never know the struggle the country is enduring; they remain cheery, optimistic and pleasant at all times.

As cheesy as it sounds, Ireland completed me.  I know it’s where I belong.  I know it’s where I want to move when I have a “big girl job”.  It’s where I want to raise my children.  It’s where I want to spend the rest of my life.  

My journey started in Dublin, which lead to a road trip to the south to Kinsale in County Cork- where my family descended from.  This was more that just a vacation for me- it was an opportunity to find myself.

LOVELY LODGINGS
If you are fortunate enough to travel to Ireland and are wondering where to stay, consider the following:
DO NOT stay at the Holiday Inn Dublin (it’s sketchy at best)
DO stay at the Pier House Bed and Breakfast in Kinsale
Anne, the mother of the family who runs the joint, is the sweetest lady you will ever meet.  Everyone in Kinsale knows her dog Toby, and he’s very friendly.  Her and her family will treat you as their own, provide you with breakfast every morning and always greet you with a smile.  Check out their website!
http://www.pierhousekinsale.com/ 

EXCELLENT EATING
I’ll be honest and say that Irish food is edible at best for those who aren’t interested.  I recommend boxy, a potato pancake with meat and grilled veggies on top.  Fish and chips is where to go if all else fails.  Also, try black and/or white pudding.  Don’t ask what it is, just try it.  I haven’t touched red meat in nearly two years, but I must say that’s it’s quite good.  Totally biased opinion, I know. 

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
The Brazen Head - My first real cultural experience of Ireland happened in The Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland (established in 1198!).  I walked into the pub, took a seat, and instantly made friends.  Every night in Dublin ended in The Brazen Head.  There were old men in the corner singing Rare Ould Times;  Everyone had their arms around each other swaying to the music and singing, some crying.  So stereotypically Irish, and I loved every second of it.

Guinness Storehouse - Seven stories of heaven.  The Guinness Storehouse is Ireland’s number one visitor attraction.  My father and I were like kids in a candy store here.  When you get to the top, you can enjoy not only a bird’s eye view of Dublin, but a free pint with your admission, or learn how to pour “the perfect pint” (my proudest life achievement).  Even if you’re not a beer drinker, The Guinness Storehouse is a huge part of Dublin, and I highly recommend it, even if only for novelty.  Tickets are about 15 Euro, but students get a good discount!

The Temple Bar District - A completely touristy area, The Temple Bar District is still a lot of fun.  There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and of course- pubs.  It’s always busy, so  visit with plenty of time to wander around.  Try the whiskey flavored ice cream!

Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle - The famous Blarney Castle is located in County Cork, which is about a three hour drive from Dublin.  Rent a car, and make the trip, because I can promise you it will be worth it.  The Castle, the caves, the woods, and the Poison Garden- all beautiful.  It’s easy to spend hours here getting intentionally lost.  A common misconception of kissing the Blarney Stone is that it gives you good luck. Wrong. Very wrong.  I cringe every time I hear this.  Kissing the Blarney Stone gives you the gift of gab!  Fun fact, my family clan (originally McCarthy) constructed and lived in this medieval fortress!

London, England

Where did you go for your spring break your senior year of high school?  Cancun? Miami?  The Bahamas?  My pale skin completely rejects the idea of sun, sand and oceans.  As soon as I step into the sun, I fry.  So where could I go where there wasn’t much sun, and the weather was mild at best? 

England and Ireland! First stop, London!

Ever since seeing 1998’s The Parent Trap when I was a little girl, I instantly became obsessed with the thought of going to London. It took about twelve years for me to actually get there, but it was everything I could have ever wanted.

The day of our departure, I was sitting in my last class of the day, Play Production.  I could feel my entire body shake out of excitement.  I couldn’t focus at all… so I collected my things, snuck out the auditorium door, and literally ran to my car.  London awaits!

Early evening on April 13th, I left for London, and arrived at the Heathrow Airport (which I hate, by the way) about eight hours later.  My excitement grew with each inch that we grew closer and closer into the heart of the city.  With the royal wedding of William and Kate happening at the end of the month, the city was full of energy.  We stayed at the beautiful Crowne Plaza in the Business District, which is just a short walk from St.Paul’s Cathedral, where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married (and where I got to take communion!).

I daydream about returning to London regularly.  The architecture is so charming, the parks are beautiful, and the men…. equally charming and beautiful. 

I would say that you need a full week in London if you want to see everything.  Here are some of my favorites!

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
Hamley’s- Hamley’s Toy Store, located on Regent Street, is over 250 years old! Seven stories in height, you can find absolutely any toy you could ever dream of in Hamley’s!  They have an Ollivander’s shop and it is here that I bought my very own wand- Sybill Trelawney’s from the Harry Potter Series.

Westminster Abbey- I spent hours here.  The abbey goes on and on, and there is so much to see; it is more like a museum than an abbey.  Take your time and wander around, taking in all the grandeur.  Make sure you check out the coronation chair of the kings, as well as where Charles Darwin is buried (ironic?).

The London Eye-  For those of you who don’t know what the London Eye is, it is a huge Ferris right on the bank of the River Thames. If you go at night, you can get a beautiful view of London lit up.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese- This a pub located on Fleet Street, but it’s not just any old pub.  Charles Dickens used to hang out here way back in the day.  Ye Olde Chesire Cheese looks like something straight out of Harry Potter.  I had to squeeze through an alley way and duck my head just to get inside.  Order a pint and claim a booth in the corner and take in all the sights.

The West End - Theatre Junkie Alert! The West End is London’s Broadway.  Theatre, especially musicals, is HUGE in London, and you can find any number of shows to see, for anyone’s liking.  My pick? The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre.  A beautiful theatre, perfect seats, and the most amazing musical I have ever seen.  I cried… no big deal.

Harrods- I was like a kid in a candy store in Harrods, the Holy Grail of all department stores.  7 Stories and 4.5 acres of every shopaholic’s dream.  Enjoy a cup of tea (probably the cheapest thing you’ll find here!) and makes sure you buy at least something small, just to have the iconic green bag!

Twinings- Being a connoisseur of tea, I had to visit where the queen herself gets her tea! Twinings is also located on Fleet street and has everything a tea lover could ever want!


I found it very difficult to write this blog post, because London has such a special place in my heart, and I would give anything to return.  As awesome as London was, I was ready for our next destination- Dublin, Ireland, which was my lifetime dream come true.  I feel another adventure is in store for me soon…

Italy

Saying goodbye to my home-stay family in Austria was no easy feat.  We hugged, exchanged our contact information, said our goodbye, and that was it.

On to the next one.

ITALY!

Ohhh, Italy. How I love your cuisine; I could shove my face with your food 24/7.  Give me a slice of REAL Italian pizza or a cone of gelato, and I am one happy girl.  Italy always seemed so distant- not only because the fact that it is over 3,000 miles away, but it simply seemed unattainable; Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would make it to Italy.  My time in Italy was spent in Venice, Pisa, Florence (my personal favorite) and Rome, including the Vatican, each location providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

While my stay in Italy was certainly enjoyable, there were some things that I really didn’t like.  I hate to say it, I really hate to say it, but I found a lot of the stereotypes of Italians to be true: I encountered many rude, loud and pushy (literally) locals.  As long you can keep up with the fast pace and sass that is Italy, you’ll survive.

Those few negative connotations aside, Italy is simply magical.

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
The Colosseum and Roman Forum: Even if you’re not a history buff, like myself, the towering grandeur that is the Colosseum is something that cannot be missed.  See the cite of where some of the most brutal battles in history took place.  The Roman Forum, which is what left of the ancient remains of the original Rome. 

The Vatican- The smallest country in the world is situated in the heart of Rome, and home to the Pope himself!  Here you can see the famous Sistine Chapel, the breathtaking Saint Peter’s Basilica and artwork from some of the Italian greats, like Michelangelo and Botticelli.  Up for something a little more eerie?  Check out the crypt with the tombs of all the deceased popes!

Leaning Tower of Pisa- Go. Get your pictures just to say you’ve done it. However don’t waste too much time in Pisa.  The Leaning Tower is about all that is exclusive to the city.

Tuscany-  My favorite region of Italy; this is where Florence is!  It’s an absolutely beautiful area.  Sit in the countryside with a bottle of wine and a cheese wheel and basque in the sun.  Florence in particular is fascinating because there is so much to the city.  In the town square, you can shop at a Chanel or Valentino boutique, and less than a half mile away, you can wheel and deal at the flea markets.  Here you can see the iconic Dome of Duomo by architectural genius Brunelleschi, or the astonishing 17 foot tall statue of David by Michelangelo

Austria

My brief stay in Switzerland was over and that meant that it was time for the next adventure that was in store for me- Austria!

Looking at my itinerary prior to embarking on my expedition, Austria was the destination I was looking forward to the least, but ended up being the country that left the biggest impact on me. 

I spent just over a week in Austria, visiting all the major locations: Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg.  While visiting Innsbruck, I had an incredibly unique experience of participating in a cooking lesson at the ESN Innsbruck Cooking School where I learned how to bake apfelstrudel, otherwise known as the most delicious thing on the face of the earth.  After becoming master pastry chefs in a matter of hours, my stomach fell to my feet, because I had forgotten that the trip was about to get very interesting very quickly.  I was on my way to meet my home stay family. 

I cannot articulate the thoughts and feelings that were running through my head.  I had no idea who these people were, and I was about to spend four days and three nights with them, eating at their kitchen table, becoming a part of their family… and that’s exactly what I did.  I became a part of the family. 

The Buchers, my home stay family, warm my heart.  I wanted to know anything and everything there was to know about Austria and their way of life, and they were eager to hear about American from an actual American.  I still keep in touch with their eldest daughter, Karolina.  We did everything together while I was in their town, Kufstein.  I went to school with Karolina (which usually ended up in us cutting class to go shopping, but that’s besides the point), met her friends, and went out with them at night to really experience what they did for fun.   

Karolina was in a band, so many of our nights were spent at her shows, with her fabulous musician friends, followed with a trip to the bar outside her house.  Sitting out in the beer gardens while they taught me how to say inappropriate things in German, and I told them everything they wanted to know about The United States.  For the record, the drinking age in Austria is sixteen for beer, and eighteen for liquor- incredibly laid back, right?  Believe it or not, I get asked this question all the time.   

I have so many fond memories of Kufstein:  convincing the young children at Karolina’s school that my friend Kam was Kobe Bryant, fearing for my life as Karolina’s grandfather whipped through the mountains in his BMW, dinner with the family- everything.  While we did go out a lot and do fun things, I will never forget the night that Karolina and I opted to stay in, cleaned the fish tank and watched Schokolade zum Frühstück… or Bridget Jones’s Diary. 

Saying good bye to the Buchers was definitely the worst part of my trip, but I knew we would keep in touch, and it’s comforting to know that if I ever return to Austria, I have a home. 

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
Visit Salzburg:  Famous for Mozart and The Sound of Music, Salzburg should not be overlooked.  It’s incredibly charming, and full of history and definitely worth at least a day trip

 Bike Ride Through Vienna:  So cheesy.  Just do it.  It’s an awesome way to see the city, because there truly is so much to see.   

Visit a Concentration Camp:  You can see concentration camps in quite a few countries in Europe, but I had the opportunity to visit Mauthausen while I stayed in Austria.  This is not for the faint of heart;  I consider myself to be a very strong individual, able to stomach the most vile parts of history, and I cried the entire time.  It’s a heart wrenching experience, but will make you so much more thankful for what you have in life.  Make this a day trip, because it will emotionally drain you.  It is certainly an experience that you will never forget.  

Zurich, Switzerland

France was fantastic, and it truly broke my heart to leave, but there was another adventure waiting for me.  Next stop: Zürich, Switzerland!

Zürich is just over 400 miles outside of Paris, slightly southeast and looks as if it came from a pop-up fairytale book.  That is the best way I can describe it.  The city is situated right on the breathtakingly pristine Lake Zürich, as the Alps rest beautifully in the backdrop. 

The locals are incredibly cheery, and you will find a variety of languages being spoken: German, French and English were all languages that I recognized.  Not only do they speak multiple languages, but you may find that they accept multiple currencies!  Switzerland is not a apart of the European Union, so they do not use the euro, but rather the Swiss Franc (their paper money looks like a rainbow!)  I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that Switzerland is obscenely expensive to visit.  Given this, I only stayed for two days and one night.

I was (un)lucky enough to arrive in Zürich on the opening day of a yodeling festival.
HOORAY.
While yodeling makes me want to bang my head against a wall, it was still great to see the city and all the locals out and about, so excited about something.  There was a parade, free food and beer, open markets and street vendors selling anything and everything a tourist could dream of-  Including Swiss Army Knives!

….. I bought four.

Great souvenir ideas, right!?  Well, after I found a bandaid in my backpack to cover up the slice on my thumb that I accidentilly inflicted upon myself from flicking it open and shut one too many times, I decided maybe I should stick to shot glasses and key chains for the friends and family back home.  Not to mention I had quite a time trying to figure out how to get through customs without any issues…

Did I mention that my first trip to Europe was during the finals of the 2008 UEFA Euro Cup, the super bowl of Europe?  No? Well, it was insane.

My first, last and only night in Switzerland was the night of the final match between Germany and Spain for the cup.  Curfews were nonexistent that night, and myself and my fellow student ambassadors took to the streets for a once in a lifetime experience.

I have never seen anything in my life quite like watching the final match of the Euro Cup IN EUROPE ever before.  Gigantic projection screens everywhere, routy, screaming fans clamoring over one another to support their team, making bets, drunken fist fights… It was just as intense as it sounds, but awfully exciting.

I think this was the moment when I realized “I’m over 3,000 miles away from home, and my parents would kill me right now”. 

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
-Explore the Alps:  Technically, I did not experience the Alps until I was in Austria (that’s next week!), but Switzerland takes all the credit and glory for the Alps so why not try it?  No matter how you get to the top, just be careful! I received the nickname “Alp Tumbler”, and had a pretty nasty scar on my knee to show off when I got home.

-Experience the Food: Cheese and chocolate.  That’s all you need to know. Eat plenty, and eat often. 

-Take a Train Ride:  Traveling by train is not as common in the States anymore, but is still a quite popular form or transportation in Europe.  Not only is it a practical way to get from point A to point B, it provides you with a unique experience and beautiful Swiss scenery!

Paris, France

I was fourteen years old, standing in the Detroit Metro Airport with a constant stream of adrenaline running through me.

 I couldn’t stand still. 

My parents kept giving me advice.  My suitcase barely made it under the fifty pound weight limit.  I checked my backpack a dozen times to make sure there was nothing in there that would get me kicked off the flight.   

I had only ever been to Canada, and to someone from Michigan, that doesn’t count as going outside of the country.   

I was about to depart on a month long trek through parts of Western Europe. 

First stop: Paris, France 

When I heard the booming voice over the loudspeaker that my terminal had opened, I hugged my crying parents, collected my things and headed off, never once looking back.

I had my passport, my ipod, and my beloved Nikon D40X. 
I was ready to go.

I credit this one specific moment to creating my unsatisfiable and unending sense of adventure and desire to see the world. 

Arriving in Paris for the first time, my stomach fell to my feet.  It’s an unexplainable feeling of grandeur and awe.  There is no city in the world quite like Paris.  The architecture- everywhere from gothic, renaissance and baroque really shows the evolution of the city and the Parisians sitting outside enjoying life… it’s as if the people don’t have a care in the world. 

I’ll squash this stereotype right now.  The French were by no means rude.  
Stop.  Just stop.  Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.   

I’m a lover of all things that define the French culture: Crêpes, the fashion, Molière, the language… everything that is so quintessentially French. 

All of the glamor, shopping and fine dining was great, and my life felt like a fairy tale for the week that I was there.  It was fantastic, but my favorite part of my stay in France was the day trip to Strasbourg in the east of France, right on the border of Germany.  Just spending the day with the locals playing soccer for hours on end, practicing my French and ending the day with their interpretation of an All-American cookout warmed my heart.   

Pardon my French…

Le Château de Versailles et les Jardins-  located about thirteen miles outside of the heart of Paris, it’s definitely worth the trip, and I cannot stress enough to get there when it opens and make an entire day out of it, simply because there is so much to see.  Don’t rush yourself; take it all in.  To walk through the halls and think about the kings and queens that inhabited it, the fabulous and extravagant parties that were throw, you will feel like you’re in a dream.  Don’t forget the gardens (my favorite part of Versailles!). 

Le Tour de Eiffel- Certainly the most identifiable symbol of Paris- the city of love.  Take a stroll around the tower and have lunch in the park.  Don’t be afraid to be a bit touristy here: Take pictures, get in line and go all the way to the top.  If you’re claustrophobic like myself, don’t even think about taking the elevator to the top; suck it up and take the stairs.  The view that awaits you will take away any breath you have left after climbing 1,063 feet up. 

Le Musée du Louvre- 652,300 Square feet of pure amazement.  You could spend an entire day here, and still not see all the artwork.  The Louvre started out as a fortress in Paris in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, until King Henri IV added 500 meters worth of galleries for artisans and craftworkers, and that is really what started it all.  Today, it is considered one of the biggest and the best museums in the world.  It is home to the Mona Lisa (don’t be disheartened when you realize how small it actually is!), not to mention thousands and thousands of other works, and one of my most favorite statues, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, otherwise known as the statue of the goddess Nike. 

Montmarte et La Basillique du Sacré Coeur-  Montmarte is an artist district in northern Paris and is home to the beautiful church, Sacré Coeur.  It’s incredibly quaint; admire the art, stroll through the streets and browse through the shops.  After admiring the church, feel free to check out the notorious Moulin Rouge just down the street… 

If you are ever fortunate enough to experience Paris, really experience it.  Go all out.  Seize every opportunity.  Lose yourself in the city and let it consume you.

New York City

My impatient fifteen year old self finally made it to the Big Apple!  State College and Boston were great, but I was ready for the grand finale.

New York City was a place I had always wanted to venture to as a little girl.  It had always seemed so glamorous, yet so unattainable, so when my parents said:

Taylor, for your 16th birthday, you can either have a big party, or we can take a trip anywhere in the United States- what’s it gonna be?

The answer was obvious.

The car ride seemed much longer than it actually was.  That pit stop in Hoboken, New Jersey to pee was torture.  We did get to buy some sweets from Carlo’s Bakery from TLC’s Cake Boss.  Cool, I guess. But it’s not New York City.  So close, yet so far.  I NEEDED to get into the city.

Creeping along through the tunnel from New Jersey to New York had me on the edge my seat.  Well, not on the edge… I had unbuckled, cranking my neck in between the seats of my parents, talking their ear off, telling them all the things I wanted to do.

When we emerged into the city, right into the heart of it, I was dumbfounded.  I’ve been to some pretty cool cities all over the world, and not a single one is like New York City.

EXCELLENT EATING
Ellen’s Stardust Diner- Located right on Broadway, you get a dinner and a show here.  It’s your traditional 50’s style diner, and the staff with sing and dance for you.  The location is perfect and the nostalgia is even better.

Rissoteria-  This is perfect for the the celiac or the person who is just a pain in the ass when it comes to food and is located in Greenwich Village.  Risotteria is an Italian Restaurant and Bakery that specializes in gluten free and vegetarian options!

LOVELY LODGINGS
I’m sure there are a plethora of fancy schmancy hotels in New York City, and if that is what you’re going for, more power to you.  I’d rather blow that money at Juicy Couture on 5th Avenue.

The Crowne Plaza Time Square- It may not be the Ritz Carleton, but I loved staying here.  The rooms were spacious and nicely furnished, and the staff was incredible.  Take advantage of the concierge!  They will find you great rates on Broadway tickets and let you know what is going on in the city during your stay.  My favorite part of the Crowne Plaza Times Square is the location, of course.  It’s right on Broadway in the heart of Times Square.  Walking out of the doors right into the excitement of the city every morning was exhilarating.  Rooms are about $300 a night.  Visit www.cpmanhattantimessquare.com to check it out.

AWESOME ATTRACTIONS
See the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park.  That’s all fabulous, but it’s typical.  Make sure you check out these too!

FAO Schwarz-  Don’t deny your inner child this experience.  FAO Schwarz is a legendary toy store that was established in 1862.  The famous “Big Piano” is irresistible to run across and create your own tune, and make sure you have your own mini photo shoot with the real life toy solider waiting outside to greet you.  The Toys R Us in Times Square is definitely worth a trip as well, but FAO Schwarz is your charming, classic toy store.

Dylan’s Candy Bar- I am OBSESSED with Dylan’s Candy Bar.  Even attempting to describe this slice of heaven to you wouldn’t do it justice.  The creation of Dylan’s Candy Bar was inspired by Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and when you step inside, it truly is a world of pure imagination.  Stories upon stories of candy, anything and everything that someone with a sweet tooth could ever want.  You may have seen it in movies like Hitch or Arthur, and multiple episodes of Gossip Girl, but you must see it for yourself.

See A Broadway Show-  Do it.  Just do it.  Don’t even think about going to New York City without seeing a broadway show.  To save money, try a matinee performance instead of an evening show.  I’m a theatre junkie, so I was in heaven.  I chose to see Hair at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.  Hair is a Musical about hippies resisting the draft during the Vietnam War.  The best part?  Myself and some fellow audience members got to participate on stage with the cast for the final two numbers.

Yeah, I’ve sang and danced on Broadway.
No big deal.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS