No one ever seems to understand when I say I love New Jersey. After the initial laughter and disbelief I am normally met with, I counter with my long list of reasons why I am perfectly content living in the Garden State. Along with being able to experience every season and my proximity to the beach, I always include the convenience of being so close to New York City. It’s just close enough to visit the city in a day or make a long weekend out of the trip, which is exactly what I did last December.

I arrived at Hamilton Station early Thursday morning to buy my ticket and wait for the train. After boarding and settling in my seat, I pulled out The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera, which I was rereading for the third time. About two stops in, I thought I recognized the voice of the man sitting in front of me, and I was right! A frequent customer of a café I worked at happened to pick the same station, same train car and same departure time that morning. We chatted for a bit, and not long after I returned to my book, we pulled into Penn Station.

After exiting the station, I hailed a cab to Alice’s Tea Cup, which has become a must-stop destination every time I’m visiting the city. My reservation was set for 11:30 a.m., and I was pouring my first cup of tea by 11:35 a.m. Since my first visit in 2018, I am always excited to return to the cozy establishment. The whimsical décor ranges from wall paintings inspired by the classic Alice in Wonderland story to mismatched dishes that clearly show the business’s inspiration. I went with The Nibble, which includes one three-cup pot of tea, your choice of scone, a sandwich, and chocolate mousse and mini cookies. For my choices I ordered a pot of Alice’s tea, a mixed berry scone which came with cream and jam, and the lapsang chicken sandwich.

I used to be a much bigger reader than I am now (something everyone seems to say), but I would say I am making more of a conscious effort to actually read more this year, for real this time. As I write this, I have read two books so far this year. Typing it out makes it seem less impressive, but it is only January. All this to say, I really enjoyed taking the time to be by myself in a teahouse, appreciating a nice meal while diving into a different reality for a while. And I would also like to add, I’ve been interrupted by conversation much more frequently when out alone with a book than when on my phone.

Following my absolute ideal brunch, I still had time to kill before checking into my hotel. The last-minute addition of a mimosa fueled my search for a spa before check-in. Something I always admire about being in New York City is you can find anything you’re looking for within a 15-minute walk (for the most part). I settled on Upper West Spa and Medical Aesthetics. When I first walked in and said I didn’t have an appointment, being told an esthetician wouldn’t be available for an hour had me turn around. However, after sitting down and accepting a cup of coffee, I stopped scrolling for another spa and decided to just wait. I had no set schedule for the day; I was free to do whatever I wanted. So I sat, drank my coffee, made small talk with the receptionist and read my book. When it was my turn, I was led into a room to change into the provided robe and begin the consultation. I told the esthetician I am very low-maintenance when it comes to my skin. I wash it every other day, apply toner when I remember, and moisturize before bed. She looked at my skin under a bright light and told me what she saw. Most of her concern was the dryness she saw due to the cold weather outside and the dry heat inside. With this in mind, after reviewing her suggested options, I went with the Platinum Hydrafacial.

Feeling completely refreshed, I left the spa and headed to Conrad Downtown to check into my room. When I stepped inside, I was met with huge Christmas trees appropriately decorated for the holiday season. Following check-in, I made my way up to my room to unpack and was pleasantly surprised with the size of the room. I had a large sitting area with a TV set up with a welcome message including my name ( a touch that always makes me feel extra-special as a traveler). After unpacking, I looked online for something to do close in the area after dinner and found there was a movie theater connected to the hotel. I enjoyed a wonderful burger with extra pickles for dinner at Atrio before heading to the theater to watch Wicked: For Good.

Excited to share the details from Day Two!

— Fiona Stewart, account executive