In this episode of Wanderers Compass, travel writers Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough join Lisa D. Smith to talk about why they keep coming back to New York City. Joelle was born here, spoke at a United Nations side event during the General Assembly, and stayed on to wander. Ryan took Amtrak in from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for part of the trip. He was once so rattled by a New York taxi ride that he almost had a panic attack. Now he says every visit is nicer than the last.

Listen to the full episode on the Big Blend Radio podcast and read the highlights below.

From panic attack to big-city fan. Years ago, Ryan's first taxi ride through New York felt like an action movie: loud, crowded and chaotic. Over time he learned to navigate cities, and he now calls New York "a pretty awesome city once you start to open your eyes a little bit."

A city that has changed. Joelle was born in New York to French immigrant parents and worked here in her early twenties during the city's rougher years. She says it has never looked cleaner than it does now, and it feels safer in a different way. Families, parks, benches and neighborhood life are everywhere.

Don't let the headlines decide for you. Ryan has walked the city in a suit and in jeans, at rush hour and at two in the morning, and says he felt comfortable every time. His advice is to be street smart, look at the signs and do your own research, as he did before visiting places like Mexico City and Naples.

It's expensive, but a lot is free. Joelle's advice is to budget carefully and then walk, people-watch and enjoy the free stuff: St. Patrick's Cathedral, the concourse under Rockefeller Center, the big screen at Hudson Yards, and the High Line. Rooms get cheaper off season, and Joelle loves January when attractions have no lines.

Architecture everywhere. Art Deco, Gothic, old brick buildings, archways and corner lanterns: Ryan says you can find something new on nearly every street, if you look up.

Grand Central, Moynihan and a city that preserves its history. Joelle and Lisa talk about Grand Central Terminal, Moynihan Train Hall, the New York Public Library and the Chrysler Building as proof that New York keeps and interprets its history. The conversation also touches on immigrant communities and how families stuck together, including Joelle's French and German family friends.

Seeing the city from above. Joelle recommends choosing one of the big three views, Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building or The Edge at Hudson Yards, to see how it all fits together. She compares them: the Edge sits lower, so you see more of the city's framework, and it has a glass floor.

Walking the High Line. The former elevated railway is now a garden walkway above the city, with the old tracks still visible. Joelle watched people on laptops, meeting for coffee and walking from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Seeing more with CityPASS. Joelle was provided with CityPASS for this visit and says it saves about half of what you would pay at the door. With it she visited the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the Intrepid, which was her first time there. She and Ryan have also visited the Guggenheim, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Joelle added the Museum of Modern Art, where she saw Van Gogh's Starry Night.

The Friends experience. Joelle bought a ticket to the Friends experience on a whim, and Lisa and Ryan can't stop talking about Seinfeld.

Amtrak, planes and skipping the car. Ryan's trip from Harrisburg takes a little under four hours, with free Wi-Fi and a decent food car. Compare that with about $27 to park for three days in Pennsylvania against roughly $50 a day in New York, plus the gas, the traffic and the stress. Joelle flew into Newark, flew out of LaGuardia and says hotel parking can run $75 to $100 a day. Her tip: park in New Jersey and take the train in, or don't bring a car at all.

Hamilton on Broadway. Joelle saw Hamilton for the second time and says live Broadway is more emotional than the filmed version. The history behind it is still here: she and Ryan have been to Fraunces Tavern twice, the spot where George Washington said farewell to his officers, near the Wall Street area and the Staten Island Ferry. Her tip for solo travelers: single seats bought a few days or even the day of the show can be surprisingly close to the stage.

Why live theater is worth it. Lisa encourages travelers to try community theater too. Joelle says Broadway has an energy that road shows don't match.

Plan by neighborhood. For first-timers, Joelle recommends staying near a transit hub such as Grand Central, Times Square or Madison Square Garden, then grouping sights geographically. The Museum of Natural History is far uptown and the 9/11 Memorial is downtown, so don't try both in one afternoon. Use the buses and subway, and see Times Square after dark.

Subway tips from Ryan. Orient yourself by landmarks like the Freedom Tower and the Chrysler Building, read the line numbers, watch for station names on the walls, and avoid rush hour when you can. Greenwich Village and Chelsea are pleasant even then.

Flatiron, Eataly and Union Square. Joelle and Ryan visited the Flatiron Building, which is nearly done with its restoration, and the original Eataly just across from it, where locals shop for dinner the way they do in Europe. They ended an evening at Union Square, where people sit on the grass with their laptops.

Living like a local. Bodegas, coffee shops where everyone knows each other, and a Whole Foods across from Bryant Park remind Joelle that New York is a home first. She asks visitors to remember they are in someone's home.

When to go. Joelle loves January for the empty attractions, and the hosts have also visited in July. Ryan says fall is lovely, with sitting-out weather, a little color in the trees and everyone out exercising. They saw Rockefeller Center setting up its skating rink.

Staten Island Ferry and Lower Manhattan. A round trip on the ferry is a budget-friendly way to see the Statue of Liberty. Joelle and Ryan also visited Castle Clinton, where you board for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Joelle loves walking along the Hudson.

Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. Ryan walked two thirds of the Brooklyn Bridge in the cold before turning around. Lisa has done a project on Central Park as a model of public space, and has interviewed a birding expert about it.

Pop culture and Madison Square Garden. Hot dog stands, pretzel carts and Law & Order are part of why New York feels familiar. Joelle saw Queen at Madison Square Garden, and the Moynihan Train Hall sits right across the street.

Bagels, pizza and gelato. Joelle has seen the lines that wrap around a city block near Times Square for pizza and keeps hoping to catch one that is short. She did stand in a long line for gelato after Hamilton and says it was worth it. Ryan's pick is Asian cuisine of any kind: use Google Maps ratings, because New York restaurants with thousands of reviews and a 4.7 or higher are very likely good.

Be spontaneous. Joelle wanders and Ryan has the compass. Their advice is to follow what looks interesting, even if it is just a beautiful lobby. Lisa adds that walking tours of the library, Grand Central and food tours are a good way to warm up to the city.

Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough are the hosts of the Wanderers Compass podcast on Big Blend Radio and founders of the Wanderers Compass travel blog. Follow their adventures at WanderersCompass.com.

Learn more about Joelle and Ryan on their Big Blend Expert Page.

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