 This might seem like the silliest, most mundane idea for a travel blog post, but in the name of practicality, I realized that it might, in fact, be a great topic to discuss.
When it comes to travel blogs, we’re all looking for places to see and where to stay, but the truth is that when we’re actually out in the world traveling, we’re also trying to stay hydrated and connected. To put it bluntly: we will inevitably need to pee and/or charge our phones. Right?! RIGHT?! We’ve all been there. You’re in some city you don’t know enjoying the day and instead of heading back to your hotel, you end up looking for somewhere you can use the bathroom or charge your phone for a bit without having to spend a bunch of money. New York City is one of the busiest travel destinations in the world. As a writer who frequently works in coffee shops, which is usually a go-to option for travelers in need of a bathroom or an outlet, I’ve discovered some useful information along the way. I’ve been residing in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan, so these locations will be near Midtown and Hell’s Kitchen, which is right near Times Square as well. Hey, there’s like a thousand coffee shops in Manhattan alone. I can’t reach them all! Here’s my breakdown of places where there’s a (free) bathroom or outlet for you to charge your phone. First up: Starbucks This international coffee chain is not only a symbol of over-priced coffee (no joke, prices jumped again), it’s also a beacon for bathrooms and outlets. What’s important to remember is that not all Starbucks are alike when it comes to outlets, bathrooms, and seating. Starbucks at 8th Ave & 52nd St. (Times Square/Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown) What they offer: outlets, good seating, and bathrooms Starbucks at 57th & 10th (Hell’s Kitchen) What they offer: lots of seating, outlets, and a bathroom Starbucks on 57th St. between 9th & and 8th Ave. (Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown) What they offer: outlets and bathroom, but very minimal seating Starbucks at 53rd and 6th (Midtown) What they offer: No outlets, bathrooms, or seating. Basically, it’s just a pit stop to get coffee. Starbucks on 53rd near Madison Ave. (Midtown) What they offer: bathroom and good seating, but no outlets Another place for free bathroom access near Times Square is the Macy’s store at 34th St. between 7th & 6th. That’s it for now! If you find yourself in NYC, use this small but handy guide, because to quote the great Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, “When you gotta go, you gotta go.”  Even though it’s a coastal city, New York tends to be more known for giant skyscrapers and larger-than-life Broadway shows than it does for beaches. In the summertime though, there’s access to many different beach spots like the celebrity-filled Hamptons, Brighton beach, and Jones beach. However, if there’s one iconic beach spot that you have to head to when visiting New York, it is definitely Coney Island.
Coney Island is located on the southwest tip of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The good news is that it is easily accessible too. From Manhattan, take the Q subway train all the to the last stop, which will be Coney Island. From there, just exit and walk over. Coney Island features a beach, boardwalk, amusement park, food, pier, and aquarium. I’m happy to report there are also plenty of bathrooms there too. When it comes to the amusement park portion of Coney Island, the ride you have to go on is called the Cyclone. It’s the most famous ride. In fact, the baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones were named after it! It’s $10 per passenger, and they do take credit cards. It’s well worth it too! The ride is really fun and features a lot of dips. Food! OK. So, when it comes to food obviously there’s lot of choices. Don’t go to Coney Island thinking you’re going to get some sort of organic chicken salad; it’s traditional park food. The famous spot to head to for a bite to eat is Nathan’s hot dogs. Eating a hotdog from Nathan’s is a Coney Island rite of passage. A regular hot dog from there will cost about $5 with tax (officially $4.75). The two biggest annual events at Coney Island are the Mermaid Parade and the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Mermaid Parade takes place in June, while the Hot Dog Eating Contest happens on the Fourth of July. It’s safe to assume those guys eating hot dogs will be passed out or throwing up by the time fireworks roll around. Yikes! Thankfully my trip to Coney ended with just a mild sunburn, as opposed to an overdose on hot dogs. Catch you on the beach! |
About the author
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and comedian who has been featured on Amazon, truTV, The New York Times, Matador Network, BUST Magazine, Sleep Advisor, Tiplr, ARTRPRNR Magazine, YourTango, Thought Catalog, GoMad Nomad, Mashable, The Daily Mail UK, the Cannes Film Festival, LaughFest, Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and the Funny Women Festival LA. For more info visit: http://www.jillzwarensteyn.weebly.com Archives
August 2024
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