The Creative Mouse

New York City is a place I advise everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime! Its energy is amazing and indescribable. Here is a list of a few places I believe are must-sees when visiting "The Great Apple" whether you are planning your next trip or already have New York City as your pick.

photo from Airline Staff Rates

Central Park: It is amazing how in the middle of all the city's chaos there is a place to be with nature. There are many things to do here; for more information on this, visit here. It is located from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West (Eighth Avenue) and is open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Love Sculpture: An iconic pop art image by Robert Indiana located in 1359 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, NY. It is the perfect spot for a family picture or to enjoy this work of art.

Radio City Music Hall: Whether you wish to enjoy an event or tour the place, this is also a great place to visit. It is located in 1260 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY. You can visit the site for information on upcoming events and they also offer a "Stage Door Tour" from Monday to Sunday starting at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $24.

NBC Studios: Want to attend a taping or just visit the NBC store? Go to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY. They also offer a tour for $33 every day from Monday to Friday starting at 8:30 a.m. up to 2 p.m. and form Saturday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tickets to the filming of your favorite shows visit here.

Rockefeller Center: Whether you have seen it in movies or in pictures, this is a beautiful site to visit. It is located in 45 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY. While here, you can visit the Rockefeller Center Plaza and Concourse, which are open daily from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., the Top of the Rock, which is open daily from 8 a.m to midnight, and the Rink at Rockefeller Center, open from October to April every day from 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: The architecture is simply amazing. Visit, take pictures, or attend a mass. The cathedral is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m and it is just simply breath-taking.

Times Square: Very few people are aware of Max Neuhaus's installation or attraction "Times Square" below the subway ventilation grates. It is located between 7th Avenue and Broadway and emits a sound, which is difficult to hear with all the busy noises of the site. Are you up for this challenge? Visit times square, located from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. This is definitely a "Selfie Spot!" Also, visit the stores, enjoy the enormous billboards or go see a Broadway show!

Madison Square Garden: Planning on experiencing an event or just visit the place to "see what it's all about?" Go to 4 Pennsylvania Plaza New York, NY and visit the site for information on upcoming events.

Macy's Herald Square: In the mood to "shop till you drop?" Visit the world's largest store in 151 West 34th Street New York, NY 10001. Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Empire State Building: Want the perfect view of the New York skyline? Then this is the place to go! Located in 17-25 W 29th St, New York, NY. Open year-round from 8am to 2 am. Price range varies from $34 to $175, depending on the package. Visit here for more information.

9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center: Located in 180 Greenwich Street New York, NY. The memorial is open open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the museum is also open daily Sunday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit here for more information.

Charging Bull: It is a bronze sculpture by Arturo Di Modica. Located in Bowling Green, New York City at the intersections of Broadway and Morris Street. This is another "Selfie Spot" that you must visit!

Battery Park: A public park located at the Battery in the south of Manhattan and faces de New York Harbor. And this is one of the places you can go in order to take the ferry towards the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Go visit Lady Liberty, one of the city's most iconic landmarks! Depending on where you are coming from, the Ferry departure is from either Battery Park or Liberty State Park. The first ferry departs from mainland at 8:30 a.m. up to 5 p.m. For detailed ticket information click here.

Canal Street: Chinatown's most famous street!

I tried ordering them more or less in proximity so you do not have to go back and forth and remember to enjoy your time in the city!

Other places to visit:

Yankee Stadium

American Museum of Natural History

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Central Park Zoo

Carnegie Hall

Museum of Modern Art

New York Public Library

Madame Tussauds

Bryant Park

Grand Central Station

Union Square

Greenwich Village

East Village

Soho

Little Italy

Trinity Church

Brooklyn Bridge

South Street Seaport

Bacardí Historical Tour

Must-See Places in Washington, D.C.

Must-See Places in New York City

Sunflower Field

Go Kayaking in Puerto Rico

- XO The Creative Mouse

2/20/2017 No comments

2/13/2017 No comments

2/06/2017 No comments

Here is a list of places to visit while in D.C. I have carefully placed them in order to avoid you from walking back and forth to see them (like I did). My advice is to visit the monuments one day, and leave the Smithsonian Museums for other days. Pick up a map at the Information Center just to be safe!

1. U.S. Capitol. Tours start every 10 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day). All you have to do is walk inside and ask for a free pass. This tour lasts about an hour.

2. U.S. Botanic Garden. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays.

3. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

4. National Archives Museum. Open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day. My advice here would be to head straight to the Rotunda in the second floor to go see both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence (unless you are interested in seeing the entire museum).

5. Washington Monument. You CANNOT miss it... it is VERY tall. Unfortunately, is it closed until Spring 2019.

6. White House

7. World War II Memorial. Open 24/7. Find your state or country and take that selfie!

8. Reflective Pool. Open 24/7.

9. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Open 24/7. It also has a great view of the Tidal Basin!

10. Korean War Memorial. Open 24/7.

11. The Mural Wall. Open 24/7. Right next to the Korean War Memorial

12. Lincoln Memorial. Open 24/7. This monument has a je ne sais quoi element to it that makes it one of my favorite monuments to visit.

13. Vietnam Memorial. Open 24/7.

14. Albert Einstein Memorial. Open 24/7.

I hope this list helps you save some, if not A LOT of extra steps on your trip to the National Mall Monuments. I cannot end this post without mentioning that EVERY place listed above is free of charge!

Bacardí Historical Tour

Must-See Places in Washington, D.C.

Must-See Places in New York City

Sunflower Field

Go Kayaking in Puerto Rico

- XO The Creative Mouse

1/30/2017 No comments

1/23/2017 No comments

This post is for those of you who are NOT morning persons like myself! I try to put these into practice every night and find that I can get up and out quicker than when I do not.

photo from Dormify

1. Before doing your bedtime routine, pick out two outfit choices for the next day. I say two because when I only choose one, sometimes I wake up the next day not feeling like wearing it and then I waste time trying to figure out what to wear.

2. Pick out everything, even the shoes and accessories!

3. Think about what hair-do you might want to do so you can take out any tools you will need the next morning to execute the look. If your hair needs washing, do it the night before. This will save you a lot of time in the morning, especially if you need to style it after washed.

4. Shave your legs at night. You want that morning shower to be as short as possible!

5. Lay out your makeup in order of use. This helps because you to not have to search for the items during the morning. All you are left to do is just apply it!

6. If you like breakfast on the go and can leave it next to your keys since the night before, do so. If not, place it in the fridge in an easy to extract place so you can pick it up on your way out. Also, there are many great options you can search for on Pinterest where you can prepare the entire week's breakfasts on say, Sunday, and just grab and go every morning. Also, if possible, pack your lunch the night before.

7. Pack your purse, book bag, or anything you are taking the night before. Remember to pack any special materials or homework you need for the next day to avoid not having to search for them in the morning when you are trying to rush out.

8. Finally, plan to go to bed just in time to get about 8 hours of sleep. Your mood the next morning depends heavily on a good night's rest. Before I go to bed, I like spraying a Pillow Mist in Lavender Vanilla to ensure a good night's sleep.

I hope these tips help you not be late the next day or at least get you a few extra minutes in bed each morning.

- XO The Creative Mouse

1/16/2017 No comments