Out-of-staters tell us about their native cities

‘I feel like every time I go downtown I am a tourist in my own city’

To the untrained eye, the UVA student body can seem very homogenous. And in a way, it is…with 2/3 of the population being in-state (and an overwhelming number of these in-staters being from Nova). Tyson’s Corner and day trips to Georgetown are second nature to most UVA students…but what about all the cool places that out-of-staters get to go when they head home over breaks? We spoke with some of our fellow Hoos from different corners of the country (and the world) about what they love most about their native cities:

New York, NY

How can you not wonder what really goes on in the city that never sleeps? We all know these NYC natives aren’t touring the Empire State building, taking selfies in Times Square, or marveling over the Statue of Liberty 24/7.

“One thing I love the most about New York is the variety of multicultural foods: from Ramen burgers, to New York pizza, to shawarmas, the city has it all. I’m also a fan of the world-renowned museums like the Met and the Frick Collection. And nothing beats strolling through Central Park on a sunny day.” -Alex (Hewlett, New York)

“My favorite spot in New York is the High Line–if I ever have visitors, I’m always sure to take them here first. It’s such a gorgeous walk, and you’ll almost forget you’re in the middle of the city–until you get to one of the many scenic overlooks. It’s basically impossible to leave without a new Instagram picture. The best part is that the High Line takes you right down to Chelsea Market, which has every food you could imagine (I particularly recommend getting crêpes or gelato) interspersed with flea markets and other shops. You could easily kill a whole afternoon there.” -Maddie (Darien, Connecticut)

Chicago, IL

Located in the heart of America, the Windy City gives Mellow, Benny’s, and Christian’s a run for their money if we’re talking pizza.

“I feel like every time I go downtown I am a tourist in my own city. From the restaurants to the architecture, from Millennium Park to the museums and Navy Pier, there is so much to see and do. As annoying as the snow may be to drive in, the holidays in Chicago are breathtaking; you always get a ‘white Christmas.’ And don’t even get me started about the pizza–if you’ve never had deep dish before, you’re definitely missing out.” -Ethan (Northbrook, Illinois)

Philadelphia, PA

Besides being the home of the Liberty Bell and the opening line of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song, this city is “Philled” with sights to see. With Spruce Street Harbor Park in the summer and Penn’s Landing River Rink in the winter, there’s something for every season. Second Year Meredith Hughes also highly recommends brunch at the Green Eggs Cafe before exploring the Franklin Institute or the Please Touch Museum.

 Miami, FL

Pitbull’s lyrics can’t do this place justice. You’re probably thinking, “Wait, people actually live here?”, and the answer is yes: they live where you vacation. When you’re home on winter break curled up by the fireplace, Miami natives are probably out on a boat somewhere. Stefan Zachar, a UVA Second Year, raves about Miami Cuban cuisine, particularly El Rey de las Fritas.

Manila, The Philippines 

The social scene in this densely populated bayside city is unlike anything one might find in the US. Manila nightlife nearly puts Trin to shame, if we’re being honest…

“One of the clubs I like to go to the most is the 71 Gramercy. What makes it so unique is that it’s a club located 71 stories high at the penthouse of a building. The view is absolutely killer. We would usually rent out the entire club whenever we go back to visit and have a huge reunion with all of the alumni and underclassmen of my high school.” -John

Better views than Drake

 

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