Over the past 15 years that I lived here, I’ve fallen madly in love with New York City. And now that spring has officially sprung, I can finally come out of hibernation, shed my winter layers and venture out to some of my favorite spots around town. Keep reading to find out where they are… and my take on the perfect outfit from H&M’s New Spring Collection for each!

ESCAPING THE HUSTLE & BUSTLE ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Floating in the middle of the East River, nestled in between Manhattan’s Upper East Side and Queens’ Long Island City, lies a two-mile stretch of land called Roosevelt Island. Technically a part of Manhattan, this residential oasis has a small town feel and is hands down one of my favorite places to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. To get there, you can easily hop on the F train (only 1 stop away from 63rd and Lexington), but I much prefer taking the aerial tram that runs along the 59th Street Bridge. Once on the island, I immediately head south to the Four Freedoms Park to soak up luscious views of the city before heading back towards the center of the island to grab a bite to eat. Island life is pretty laid-back, so a simple cotton dress and sandals are perfect for meandering.

DINING & PEOPLE-WATCHING IN THE WEST VILLAGE

Ever since college, I’ve loved to trek down to the West Village to visit its quirky, offbeat shops and to stretch my dining dollars at some of the most delicious ethnic eateries in the city. If you wind up on MacDougal Street, definitely swing by Meskerem for traditional Ethiopian… and be sure to order lots of ice water to cool your taste buds in between bites! While I’m in the area, I usually take at least a few minutes to stroll through Washington Square Park to do a bit of people gazing and enjoy the myriad outdoor performances. Being bold is definitely beautiful in this neighborhood, so a textured jacket bursting with bright colors and prints feels right at home in this neck of the woods.

RETAIL THERAPY ON FIFTH AVENUE

If you’ve been on my blog for any length of time, it’s pretty apparent that I’m a hardcore shopper. And whenever I feel the need for a little retail therapy, I inevitably wind up on Fifth Avenue. The stretch between 42nd and 59th Streets is home to some of the best shopping in the world with just the right mix of high and low to match just about every style and budget. I like to start south and work my way up, making dozens of stops along the way, including H&M’s flagship store at 48th street that boasts 4 floors of fashion-forward, wallet-friendly bliss! During the winter, I also swing by Rockefeller Center to catch a glimpse of the Christmas tree or watch skaters of varying skill levels take to the ice. By the end of my excursion, I’m usually beat – which is the perfect excuse for me to pop into the Plaza Hotel for a quick respite at the Champagne Bar or a full-on dining experience at Food Hall. Sleek sophistication is the name of the game in this posh part of town, and this button-front midi skirt paired with a classic black turtleneck definitely does the trick.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by H&M through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about H&M all opinions are my own.