Yes, the title of this article is a Fifth Harmony song lyric. I haven’t found the appropriate picture to use it as a catchy caption on Instagram and I couldn’t let it go to waste. I am, in fact, from a small town in Kentucky and I had my first New York City experience in January. Here are some of my personal tips about how to take advantage of your trip to the Big Apple, especially if you are a first-timer.

1. Make a list

This is coming from the girl who lives out of her planner. Before you jet set off to New York, write or type out the experiences you must have. I did this when I went to Italy and I always looked forward to checking something off the experience list. When visiting New York, I had separate lists for places and food that included New York style cheesecake, Tiffany’s, a Broadway show, and Italian cannoli’s. Visiting somewhere new and taking advantage of every waking hour can be overwhelming, so use this strategy to enjoy your stay!

2. Don’t go full price

As mentioned before, I had to see a Broadway show when I visited New York. The only practical and relatively affordable way to do that is to buy tickets through a company like tkts. I could watch the Broadway classic Chicago for half price. This is a great idea if you plan on watching the show with a few friends, but it may be more difficult for a large group if everyone is wanting to sit together to watch the show.

3. Free Fridays

I am a huge fan of museums and my academic career has exposed me to many great artists. I had full intentions of purchasing a ticket to visit the MoMA, but I was more than happy to learn aboutFree Friday Nights made possible by UNIQLO. The museum hands out free tickets upon entrance from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Even if you don’t enjoy museums, soak up the culture made by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, and, my personal favorite, Claude Monet.

4. Walk…EVERYWHERE

So many sites to see are in walking distance within the boroughs of New York City. Not only will this save you money on taxi and Uber fares, but you will have some exercise built into your daily schedule. More importantly, you can explore more and discover new places that wouldn’t be possible from behind the window of a car.