November 1-11, 2025 | New York → Las Vegas → Toronto
Some journeys are measured in miles. Others are measured in moments. My 11-day odyssey through three iconic North American cities was both—a whirlwind adventure spanning thousands of miles and countless unforgettable experiences. From the soaring heights of Manhattan’s skyscrapers to the neon-lit madness of the Vegas Strip, from the glittering desert to the snow-covered streets of Toronto, this was the trip that redefined what travel means to me.
Here’s the story of how I fell in love with three cities, each in completely different ways.
🗽 NEW YORK CITY: Round Two in the Big Apple (Nov 1-4)
The Return: This was my second time in New York, and the city that never sleeps welcomed me back with the same electric energy I remembered—but this time, I was ready to see it differently.
✨ Magic Moments
Airport Luxury Unlocked
After 10 years of travel, I finally experienced my first airport lounge. The EBL Airport Greet & Meet service made me feel like a VIP, complete with a personal escort and access to the Sky Lounge. Sometimes, small luxuries transform the entire travel experience.
Three Perspectives, One City
In a single day, I conquered three observation decks:
- Summit One Vanderbilt (91-93 floors): Glass floors, mirrored ceilings, infinite reflections—a surreal, futuristic experience unlike any other
- Top of the Rock (67, 69, 70 floors): Open-air terraces with perfect Central Park views
- Empire State Building (80, 86 floors): Sunset and nighttime Manhattan, a sea of lights stretching to infinity
Each offered a unique perspective on the same magnificent city.
Statue of Liberty at Sunset
My first visit was a daytime cruise. This time, I chose evening. Watching Lady Liberty illuminated against the fading sky, with Manhattan’s lights beginning to twinkle behind me—pure poetry.
The Neighborhoods
SoHo’s cast-iron elegance, Little Italy’s nostalgic charm, Chinatown’s bustling energy—walking these neighborhoods wasn’t about ticking boxes. It was about feeling the city’s diverse heartbeat.
💡 New York Highlights
- Best Splurge: Summit One Vanderbilt’s mind-bending glass experience
- Best Free Experience: Bellagio Fountains… wait, wrong city! I mean the Brooklyn Bridge walk (okay, I didn’t do that this time, but the Statue of Liberty views were free from many vantage points!)
- Best Transportation Hack: Unlimited MetroCard for stress-free subway exploration
- Unexpected Moment: Falling asleep on the subway and missing my stop—jet lag is real!
📝 Quick Tips
- Book observation deck tickets online to skip lines
- Evening cruises offer different lighting and smaller crowds
- Don’t buy “Made in China” souvenirs in Chinatown—save your money
- Layer your clothes—buildings are heated, outside is cold
🎰 LAS VEGAS: What Gets Written About (Nov 4-7)
The Encore: My second Vegas visit, but the city of excess had saved some surprises for me.
✨ Magic Moments
The Sphere: A New Reality
Words fail. The interior’s 160,000 square-foot wraparound LED screen (with the exterior Exosphere at 580,000 square feet!) creates complete visual immersion. For 90 minutes, I wasn’t watching content—I was inside it. The Sphere isn’t just Vegas’s newest attraction; it’s a glimpse into the future of entertainment.
Flying Over Vegas
My first-ever helicopter ride, soaring above the glittering Strip at night. The pilot threw in some thrilling dives. Ten minutes that felt like ten seconds. From above, Vegas transforms from chaotic to beautiful—a jeweled ribbon of light cutting through pitch-black desert.
A Lesson in Kindness
Walking to the pawn shop, I approached an intersection with no signal. Three cars stopped side-by-side, completely blocking traffic. Behind them, 5-6 more vehicles stopped. I was confused—until a driver gestured for me to cross. All these people had stopped for me, a single pedestrian. In that moment, I experienced American courtesy at its finest. I’ll never forget that intersection or those patient drivers.
High Roller Sunset
The 550-foot observation wheel offers 30 minutes of slowly rotating views. From up there, the entire Strip spreads below, and the Sphere’s massive form becomes fully apparent. It’s meditation with a view.
Big Bus Education
The hop-on-hop-off tour wasn’t just transportation—it was history class. The live guide shared stories about each hotel, casino, and landmark. Learning while sightseeing multiplied the experience.
💡 Vegas Highlights
- Most Mind-Blowing: The Sphere (worth every penny)
- Most Thrilling: Helicopter ride at night
- Most Heartwarming: The traffic stop story
- Best Value: 3-day RTC bus pass for unlimited exploration
- Hidden Discovery: Vegas residential areas are almost entirely duplexes
📝 Quick Tips
- The Sphere is non-negotiable—don’t skip it
- Book helicopter tours and major shows in advance
- Get a multi-day bus pass—you’ll save money and see more
- Free butter beer exists—find it!
- Construction everywhere due to upcoming F1 race (November 2025)
🍁 TORONTO: Love at First Snowfall (Nov 7-11)
The Discovery: My first time in Canada, lowest expectations, highest impact. Toronto blindsided me in the best possible way.
✨ Magic Moments
First Snowfall
I stepped outside on November 9th, and it was snowing. I had never seen snow in my life. I stood there, mesmerized, watching snowflakes drift down from a gray sky, feeling them land on my face and melt. A childhood dream fulfilled. This moment alone was worth the entire trip.
CN Tower Breakfast
Having breakfast at 346 meters (114th floor) while Toronto wakes up below you—this is the kind of experience you remember forever. Then ascending another 33 floors to the SkyPod (447 meters) for 360-degree views that rival anything I’ve seen, including Burj Khalifa.
Niagara Falls in Winter
Experiencing one of the world’s most famous waterfalls with snow falling around it hits differently. The boat ride to the base, the Journey Behind the Falls tunnels, the sheer power of thousands of tons of water crashing down—majestic doesn’t begin to cover it.
St. Lawrence Market Time Travel
This historic market, operating since 1803, showcases Canada at its finest. Aged cheese—3, 5, 7, 12, even 18 years old. Artisan meats. Fresh produce. It’s not just shopping; it’s experiencing Canadian food culture.
Reunion Dinner
My Turkish friend Zubayer, whom I studied with in 2013, picked me up and drove 40 minutes for dinner. We talked for hours, reminiscing and catching up. He said he misses Bangladesh. Some moments transcend tourism—they’re about human connection across continents.
The Courtesy of Strangers
From the tour bus waiting for me when I arrived 2 minutes before departure, to the immigration officer patiently explaining electronic stamps, to my friend’s hospitality—Toronto showed me that kindness is universal.
💡 Toronto Highlights
- Most Emotional: First snowfall
- Most Impressive: CN Tower’s multiple viewing levels
- Most Powerful: Niagara Falls in winter conditions
- Most Delicious: Jordanian restaurant rice and chicken (had it twice!)
- Best Value: Public transit—cheap, efficient, comprehensive
- Warmest Memory: Dinner with Zubayer
📝 Quick Tips
- November is COLD—bring proper winter gear (gloves are essential!)
- TTC system is excellent—learn it and save money
- Book Niagara Falls day tours with reputable companies
- St. Lawrence Market is best on Saturday mornings
- No passport stamps anymore—everything’s electronic
- Exit through domestic terminal to avoid crowds and touts
🌟 The Journey By Numbers
- Days: 11
- Cities: 3
- Countries: 2 (USA, Canada)
- Observation Decks Visited: 6
- Flights: 5
- First Experiences: Airport lounge (2x), hostel stay, helicopter ride, snowfall
- Old Friends Reconnected With: 1 (priceless)
- Priority Pass Lounges Used: 4 out of 6
- Most Unexpected Purchase: Canadian maple syrup combo box
- Best Transportation Decision: Learning and using public transit everywhere
- Weather Extremes: From Vegas heat to Toronto’s -1°C snowfall
💭 Three Cities, Three Personalities
New York is the ambitious friend who never stops moving, always has plans, and makes you feel like anything is possible. It’s exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure.
Las Vegas is the wild friend who encourages bad decisions (in the best way), shows you experiences you didn’t know existed, and creates stories you’ll tell forever.
Toronto is the friend you underestimated—thoughtful, multicultural, quietly impressive. The one you realize you want to spend more time with.
🎯 What I Learned
1. Second Visits Offer New Perspectives
Returning to New York and Vegas let me skip the “first-time tourist” mode and actually experience the cities. I took risks, tried new things, and appreciated details I’d rushed past before.
2. Low Expectations Create Space for Surprises
I knew the least about Toronto and loved it the most. Sometimes not researching everything lets you discover things organically.
3. Splurge on Experiences, Save on Souvenirs
The Sphere, helicopter rides, observation decks—these created memories. “Made in China” trinkets? Not so much. Invest in experiences.
4. Public Transit is Underrated
From NYC’s subway to Vegas’s buses to Toronto’s TTC—I saved hundreds of dollars and gained local perspective by using public transportation.
5. Kindness Transcends Borders
From Vegas drivers stopping for a pedestrian to a Toronto friend driving 40 minutes for dinner to a Doha airport employee rebooking my flight—humans are good.
6. Childhood Dreams Can Come True
I saw snow for the first time at 35+ years old. It’s never too late to experience something magical.
7. Document Everything—But Live in the Moment
Yes, take photos and videos. But also put the phone down and just… be there. Feel the helicopter vibration, taste the air at 1,000 feet, watch snowflakes without filming them.
🌍 Final Thoughts: The Trip That Changed Me
When I boarded that 3:25 AM flight from Dhaka on November 1st, I expected a good trip. What I got was transformative.
I experienced luxury I’d never tried (airport lounges, VIP treatment). I challenged myself in new ways (staying in hostels, navigating three cities’ transit systems). I witnessed natural beauty (Niagara Falls) and human creativity (the Sphere) in equal measure. I reconnected with an old friend and made peace with being a solo traveler who’s never truly alone.
Most importantly, I learned that travel isn’t about checking boxes on a bucket list. It’s about:
- Standing in Times Square at night and feeling the world’s energy
- Flying over Vegas and seeing beauty in a city built on excess
- Catching snowflakes on your face for the first time
- Sharing a meal with a friend you haven’t seen in years
- Discovering that drivers stop for pedestrians
- Realizing that 18-year-old cheese exists and people care deeply about it
Would I do it all again? In a heartbeat. But I’d change nothing about this journey—not the missed subway stop, not the freezing hands in Toronto, not even the airline that didn’t serve food on a 5+ hour flight.
Because sometimes, the imperfections make the perfect story.
📚 Read the Full Stories
Want the complete, detailed experience of each city? Check out the individual blogs:
New York: Round Two in the Big Apple: A Fresh Take on New York’s Iconic Streets
Summit One Vanderbilt’s glass floors, three observation decks in one day, sunset at the Statue of Liberty, and rediscovering familiar streets with fresh eyes.
Las Vegas: What Happens in Vegas… Gets Written About: My Second Strip Adventure
The Sphere’s 160,000 sq ft screen, helicopter rides over the Strip, a stranger’s kindness at a crossroads, and why Vegas surprised me twice.
Toronto: Toronto Unfiltered: A First-Timer’s Love Affair with Canada’s Urban Gem
First snowfall tears, CN Tower breakfast at 1,000+ feet, Niagara Falls in winter, 18-year-old cheese, and a reunion that reminded me what matters.
🙏 Thank You for Reading
Travel stories are meant to be shared. If this journey inspired you, made you smile, or gave you ideas for your own adventures, I’ve done my job.
The world is vast, beautiful, and waiting. Whether it’s three cities in 11 days or one neighborhood in an afternoon, get out there and create your own stories.
As for me? I’m already planning the next adventure. Because once you start collecting moments instead of things, you never want to stop.
Safe travels, friends. May your flights be on time, your lodgings be cozy, and your experiences be unforgettable.
About the Journey:
📍 Route: Dhaka → New York → Las Vegas → Toronto → Dhaka
📅 Dates: November 1-11, 2025
✈️ Airlines: Qatar Airways (with that amazing free in-flight wifi!)
💳 Budget Hacks: Priority Pass for lounges, public transit everywhere, advance booking for major attractions
📱 Essential Apps: Google Maps, Uber/Uber Eats, airline apps, bus/transit apps for each city
Follow my travel adventures for more stories from around the world. Next destination? That’s classified… for now. 😉
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