This past spring, in the midst of whirlwind weekend reunion trip with two friends in New York City, I had the opportunity to go on the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour. Initially, I was skeptical. I am fan of the show, but not a true aficionado, and I usually travel independently and on foot, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. 3.5 hours later, pleasantly tipsy from a delicious cosmopolitan, I disembarked from the tour bus near Times Square and, am happy to report, that the tour was completely and undeniably worth it.
But don’t just take my word for it, here’s five reasons to take the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour during your visit to the Big Apple.
- Relaxation
Let’s face it—New York is a crazy place to be. It’s “the city that doesn’t sleep,” Frank Sinatra sang, and he was right. But that’s why people go there—to be caught up in the busy, chaotic life which pounds through every inch of the Big Apple.
Relaxing, I’ve found, can be hard to do in New York. I’m always on the go, rushing around from one place to the next. That’s why the tour was such a welcome change—we were able to relax.
After traveling around warm, humid Manhattan in stinky subways and through crowded streets, climbing onto an air-conditioned bus to sit and immerse oneself in Sex and the City was a truly welcome respite. We got to put our feet up, revisit SATC lore, and, in effect, be truly at ease.
- A Great Tour Guide
Our tour guide that day was Lou, a spunky blonde and fellow Buckeye who kept our attention the whole time with fun anecdotes and a seamless presentation. She was friendly, helpful, and full of great tips about New York City—including, of all things, where to get affordable designer dresses at only $20. (Who knew such a thing was possible in NYC?)
- 40+ Spots in 3.5 Hours
That’s right—in 3.5 hours (which didn’t feel like 3.5 hours, by the way, they went so quickly), we drove by and even visited more than 40 iconic spots that even an occasional viewer of SATC might recognize:
- The jewelry store where Charlotte York picked her engagement ring
- The illustrious New York Public Library, where Big and Carrie’s wedding was supposed to take place (and also, incidentally, for those Audrey Hepburn fans, home of where Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak went to check out his book in Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
- The sex shop where Charlotte was first introduced to the “Rabbit”
- Aidan and Steve’s bar
- Carrie’s stoop and her brownstone in the Village
The great thing was that we watched clips of the show before we saw these spots. It was a bit surreal to see something on the screen, then in real life.
- Free cupcakes
Need I say more? You get a free cupcake about half way through the tour. Chocolate or vanilla – your choice.
- A look at some of the most famous and beautiful neighborhoods in Manhattan
This honestly was one of my favorite parts of the tour (besides the cupcakes, of course). I’d read about Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street, Little Italy, and SoHo but never really saw these places until I went on the tour. In fact, it’s possible that I might never have done so had I not gone on the tour.
Walking by rows of gorgeous brownstones under tree-dappled streets, past cute boutiques, street art, hipster bars and restaurants of every ethnicity possible, I was able to pretend that I was a New Yorker—or Carrie Bradshaw.
If you and your gal pals (or male friends as well—let’s not discriminate, as we did have two men the tour) are looking for a fun, relaxing way to spend an afternoon in New York City, I would highly recommend the On Location Tours SATC Tour. As of May 2015, tickets cost $42, with a $2 ticket fee. For more information about this tour—along with the other tours this company runs including Gossip Girl and Sopranos tours—visit http://onlocationtours.com/tour/sex-and-the-city/.
Note: On Location Tours provided us with a complimentary tour. All thoughts and opinions, however, are my own.
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