4 Tips For Seeing NYC This Fall With Your Fave Person Without Looking Like A Tourist

If you’re looking for a change of scenery this fall, then a few days in NYC might be just what you need to break up your regular downtime routine.

Before you commit to any plans, however, here are a few tips for looking less tourist-y while enjoying the best that the city has to offer.

I mean, why go to all the trouble of packing your bags and driving (or Amtrak-ing it) 4+ hours to have a less-than-stellar time?

Make it as good IRL as it will look in your Snaps and Insta Stories with these four recommendations for what to wear, see, and do in the City That Never Sleeps this season.

1) All those cute coffee shops and cafes your fav IG celebs always seem to be posting from? Remi Flower & Coffee uptown. Or Gimme Coffee between Prince and Spring in Nolita. Then there’s Birch on Columbus Ave. Sure, it all looks fine and dandy. The latte art, those artfully placed sunnies on the marble tabletops, and the photogenic plates of food. Prepare yourself if you're intent on going IRL, though, because most of these spots are teeny tiny. So, don't be surprised if you go & end up feeling like the folks at the next table are practically sitting in your lap. Or you can't even get a table because there's already a line of ppl waiting who also discovered it on IG, which happened to me at both Jack's Wife Freda in 2016 and the Egg Shop in 2017.

2) If you’re a Gossip Girl fan and you’ve always wanted to stay at the Lotte New York Palace (so many Serena sightings there during season 1 of the show), you’ll want to look into the off-the-radar tour (In other words, you won’t find it listed anywhere.) apparently conducted by their head of security. Honestly I’ve stayed there several times over the last 4-5 years and had zero idea it existed, so I’m experiencing a serious case of FOMO right now. Also, with a reboot reportedly coming from HBO in the Spring of 2020, interest in the original GG is no doubt going to be ramping up once again. For complete details, check out the recent NY Times article about it here.

3) Do yourself a big favor and invest in a cute, comfy pair of flats or sneakers. No one uptown or downtown is wearing heels on the streets. Flats, sneakers or ankle booties YES, but high heels are a big NOPE. Forget what you've seen on the big screen or via those Gossip Girl reruns and any number of NYC-based Instagram accounts of those “fashion personalities.” Maybe carry a pair in your tote and have them handy to change into later, just in case you end up in a bar or restaurant full of model-y types and you need to glam things up a bit.

4) There are almost too many ride sharing apps to choose from. You're probably already familiar with Uber and Lyft (Both are readily available in RI at this point.), but how about Gett, Via or Juno? Last time I was in the city, don't think we took a cab once. We either walked (where those walking shoes come into play in a big way) or requested a Lyft or Uber. Which could explain why anytime I watch a current movie or tv show that takes place in NYC, and someone hops out of a cab (I'm looking at you YOUNGER!), I shake my head in disbelief. That's soooo 8 years ago.

*This post has been updated from one that has appeared on the site previously.