Growing up in Ohio, I’m pretty used to cold winters at this point. In fact, when I packed up at 18 and moved to Georgia to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, the one thing I missed most about being away from home was winter. The cold weather- not so much. But the SNOW! I missed waking up to snow days, school canceled, and throwing on my snow pants and boots (and about 50 layers of sweatshirts) to trudge through 2 feet of snow to my friend’s house that set atop the best sledding hill in town. I’d stay out until it got dark outside, then schlepp my sopping wet and cold body back to my home where my dad would have hot chocolate and my mom would have dinner ready.

Turns out that living on your own in New York City, nobody makes you hot food to welcome you home when it gets cold outside. You have to do it all yourself or pick it up from your local bodega. I personally prefer to spend the coldest days at my favorite local Indian restaurant, filling up on Aloo Gobi Matar and garlic naan. Another thing I like to do when the winter chill brings the city to a quiet hum is to visit some of the iconic NYC locations that are usually too mobbed to bear.

Brooklyn Bridge Park? Usually a tourist feasting ground. Can’t walk around here without 50 people walking right into you. But! The pro tip is to come when it’s a little chilly. Or when it’s really chilly, and you’ll have the whole place to yourselves! Micka and Kristian took my advice on that and I mean check it out- they’ve got the whole place to themselves! Plus- that warm winter sun hitting the Brooklyn Bridge and warming up an otherwise freezing day? Absolutely worth it all!