This weekend, Tom and I decided to act like tourists in our own city and it made for the best weekend ever. So much so that my Sunday Scaries last night were at an all-time high (which I’m deciding is a good thing).
If you have followed for a while, you know that Tom and I LOVE to travel but haven’t had much time to do in the last few years with 1) the COVID of it all, 2) new jobs for the both of us and 3) ALL of the wedding planning. And while we have a few trips coming up, we felt way overdo for that getaway feeling. To get that feeling without any crazy flights or hotel expenses, Tom and I boiled down what we loved about some of our favorite weekend getaways into 4 key ingredients.
A night of spontaneity. Some of our favorite trips include a night with absolutely no plans. We head out with an open mind and let the spirit of whatever city we are in take us. On Friday, we started at one of our favorite restaurants, Sant Ambroeus, and instead of getting a table, we choose to sit at the bar. It’s kinda ridiculous but there is less of a commitment at the bar. 😂 Of course we started with espresso martinis and a caprese salad for two. As we anticipated, we were ready to switch it up after a few tinis and headed to Anassa Taverna for a real dinner. Anassa has a great Friday night vibe. Especially if you sit close to the bar it feels more like a night out than a long drawn out dinner. Finally, we needed a nightcap so headed to Weather Up in Tribeca. This is one of our favorite cocktail bars downtown so while this was as ‘spontaneous,’ we did stay out until 2 AM so it was definitely a little out of character.
A day to be lazy. After such a late nigh out, we needed a day to chill out and relax. If we were actually in another city, we’d plan a spa day or something really zen. However, we were at home so I settled for sleeping in, breakfast in bed, hours of HGTV and a bath. Honestly, it was kinda a dream and EXACTLY what I needed.
A planned activity. It’s so easy to overlook all of the “touristy” things to do in your own city. They are crowded and you may have “done” them a few times whenever friends + family are in town. HOWEVER, some of the biggest attractions are constantly changing with new installations and updates. For example, Tom and I have been to The Met before but we specifically wanted to see the ‘In America: An Anthology Of Fashion” exhibit that inspired the Met Gala a few weeks back. The exhibit was beautiful and being in the mix with so many tourists kinda made me feel like I was on vacation myself.
A fancy reservation. Last but not least, treat yourself to a little indulgent restaurant (just as you would in a new city). Tom chose an early reservation at Jojo, which was only a 20 minute walk from The Met. The food was incredible. The vibe was super romantic. And it was the perfect way to make a weekend in NYC feel more special than usual.
It was truly such a perfect weekend and it reminded me that I need to enjoy my city way more often than I do. If you’ve been looking for a sign to plan your own staycation in your own city, this is IT and I’d love to hear your own tips. Drop them below. 👇
