I've made it a tradition to go to New York City every fall break, especially since a lot of my upperclassman friends graduated and went to the city to work. It was particularly exciting this year since it was Columbus Day weekend and there were many celebrations happening in the city.
If you book in advance, round-trip plane tickets from Rochester to JFK are less than $150 and it's only about a 50-minute flight.
The weather was a perfect balance between summer and autumn. A lot of New Yorkers were out in the park to get away from the hectic environment of the city. I sat on a bench in Madison Square and observed people for about an hour. It's a weird hobby I developed ever since I attended film school in NYC last summer. I'm not a creep! It just helps spark new ideas.
Besides observing people and sightseeing, eating was definitely one of the biggest enjoyments of the trip. I stood in line at Magnolia Bakery just to get this red velvet cupcake. I was pondering on how to eat it without getting the frosting all over my face. (Failed.)
Every time I go to the city, there is always something new to learn and experience, but I'm actually glad that I didn't choose to attend college there, because my money evaporated like boiling water. Fortunately, Rochester is close enough to NYC that I can easily visit during a long weekend and make the most out of it. With a student ID, there are a lot of discounts available. For example, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), tickets are $14 instead of $25, so make sure you don't forget to bring your Rochester ID with you!