Today’s post is a little bit of a hodgepodge of some of my new favorite places that I visited while in NYC and Boston (plus a few life updates and what you can expect to see more of on the blog in the upcoming weeks). 

I just got back from ten days in NYC and Boston with one day in Connecticut. While I love traveling, this trip was exhausting. I took two planes, four train rides that lasted more than an hour, a whole lotta Lyft rides, and more than 150,000 steps (does anyone else count steps?). Needless to say, I have been taking it slow since getting home, which has included lots of sleep, healthy meals, meditating, and some reading in bed. 

While I covered a lot of ground on this trip I didn’t go to a bunch of new places. I really relied on the tried and true.

Let’s start with NYC.

I went to The Vessel, which if you haven’t seen yet you must add it to your list. It is free to go inside, but you need to reserve tickets ahead of time and they do sell out. I recommend jumping online two weeks in advance and reserving your tickets. I went at sunset and enjoyed the most beautiful views. After visiting The Vessel, I walked along The High Line to get more of the sunset and then had dinner inside the Hudson Yards Mall at a place called Fuku for Fried Chicken and had a frozen lemonade. Fuku is part of the Momofuku family and definitely does not disappoint. I recommend the spicy sandwich and enjoy the cheesy bread that comes with it. 

I also went to the Camp Exhibit at The Met. It was everything I thought it would be and more. If you are visiting NYC over the next couple of months, check it out. My photos don’t do this exhibit justice at all. 

It was beyond hot in the city on this trip, but lucky for me there were two ice cream shops within walking distance. Milk Bar which is one of my go-to places any time I am in the city, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream which has vegan options. I fell in love with the cookie crumble strawberry jam flavor. 

A few other places enjoyed on this trip are linked below:

Stumptown Coffee at The Ace Hotel: great if you need a spot to work and a delicious oat milk latte.

Dig Inn: the perfect spot for a quick healthy bite. 

Awash: if you like Ethiopian food, definitely go here, but be prepared for a lot of food. I had a ton of leftovers. 

Artichoke Pizza: I don’t know how I’d never been here before, but this was the best slice of pizza of my entire life. I talked about it non stop for the rest of the trip. 

The Jeffrey: is a great spot for oysters and a nice beer. 

More resources here.

After 5 days in NYC, I spent a day and a night in Connecticut and went for a boat ride. It was so fun to be out on the water and watch the sunset. This is something that NEVER happens in SLC. It was a quick turnaround from Connecticut to a 4-hour Amtrak train to Boston. I cannot rave enough about this train ride. I got a comfy seat and sat back with my coffee and listened to podcasts. Before I knew it, I was in Back Bay. Definitely, definitely take the train instead of the bus from NYC to Boston. 

My first day in Boston was the 4th of July so I got to enjoy the Boston Pops for a second time and see the beautiful fireworks off the Charles Bridge. They announced that there were over half a million people at the Esplanade watching, so crazy. But before I made my way to the fireworks, I had dinner at Lolita and it was so much fun! This is a must visit spot in Boston. Order a spicy margarita, the cauliflower tacos, and the lobster guacamole. 

The next day, I went over to Harvard and strolled around, enjoying coffee from Pavement and a donut from Blackbird Donuts. If you haven’t had one of these donuts you are really missing out. Temps rose quickly so for the afternoon, I went to a cute little bar and had oysters and a drink. 

Other places I enjoyed in Boston:

Shake Shack: tried and true for me, I had two trips to Shake Shack on this trip.

Mike’s Pastry: for the obligatory cannoli.

Georgetown Cupcakes: if you love cupcakes, you have to go here and ask about their secret flavor of the day. I love getting a couple of cupcakes to take back to the hotel for some late night snacking.

Buttermilk & Bourbon: was a new find that did not disappoint. If you are looking for a great brunch spot, this is it. They have amazing comfort food and a fun twist on mimosas. 

Trillium Beer Garden: if you visit during the summer, check out this cute beer garden. 

More resources here.

I can’t wait to spend some time in at home in Salt Lake for a longer period of time (almost two months till my next flight). I”m looking forward to relaxing and having some extra time to spend here on the blog! Over the next few weeks, I am going to be adding more content to help you guys, including resources for growing on social media, tips, and tricks to show you how you can fit more travel in your life, and a new course offering. 

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Photos by Camber Weiss and me.