It was during the summer when my friends and I planned our trip to New York City. After Sept. 11, however, I knew that New York City would never be the same. We were asked whether or not we would still make the trip we?d dreamed of since high school. The answer was a simple “yes.”

There?s so much to see and do in New York, it?s outrageous. From the Statue of Liberty to Central Park and now Ground Zero, the location of the fallen World Trade Center towers, people from all across the world are still visiting New York, and for good reason.

Our first night there, we took a walk down Little Italy. OK, so everyone is right, New York is known for its wonderful food, but with every corner we turned, at least two Starbucks could be found. After eating dinner we decided to head home and change for an evening on the town. We stayed in the heart of Manhattan, so everything was really just a subway ride away. The stories about New York subways is true; avoid taking them if at all possible.

The nightlife in New York City is crazy. Bars and clubs are open until the early mornings. Our first club there was a hip-hop club called Asylum, where the music was good and the cover was free. Next was Webster?s Hall, known for its unbelievably large selection of music. This club was four stories high, with each room playing different music to fit the needs of just about everyone.

The third nightclub we visited was called Club Exit, found among six stories of intense music ranging from hip-hop to techno. The cover charge was quite extreme, at $30 per person, and a shot of tequila cost about $9, solid proof that, like many things in New York, the nightlife can get quite expensive.

We set aside a full morning to see all the tourist attractions we could possibly fit in, beginning at Ground Zero.

I can?t begin to explain what a horrific sight Ground Zero looked like. I remember just walking down the street seeing people wearing facemasks so they didn?t inhale the smoke still left in the air from the attacks. Police blocked off most of where the World Trade Center once stood, but there was still a lot of rubble around so portions of the towers were still visible. Posters and signs made by people from all over the world were hanging around nearby buildings.

Pictures of individuals who lost their lives were also in sight. A huge memorial was placed in front of a church where people came to mourn. After witnessing people mourn and pay their respects, we then took a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The two attractions had been closed since Sept. 11 for security purposes, but we were still allowed to take a ferry to the island.

Next we headed down to Times Square in hopes of finding Carson Daly. So there we were, four crazy girls standing outside the MTV studio watching Daly film. Times Square is filled with tons of people on every corner. The lighting there is unbelievable.

After Times Square, we sought out a Broadway musical and purchased tickets to “I Love You, You?re Perfect, Now Change.” Everyone visiting New York for the first time has got to catch a Broadway musical; they?re incredibly fun.

The most beautiful part of my trip was taking a stroll through Central Park early in the morning. Even though it was very chilly, the weather seemed perfect.

My trip to New York City was unforgettable. If you?re ever planning a trip to the “Big Apple,” plan it with the ones you love and know you?ll have the most fun with, because I did, and it was well worth it.