Earlier this summer, I celebrated graduating magna cum laude from Pace University by solo traveling in London. While I had a great time, I wish that I was able to explore the UK a little more. London gets all the love but there are so many cool areas to check out. One place in particular I’d love to visit is Manchester. I’ve already made plans for where I’ll be heading to if and when I visit what sounds like an amazing city.

To-Do List For Manchester 

• See live music at YES. Manchester has a thriving music scene, but this is supposed to be one of the trendiest spots in town. I'll be checking the act schedule if I ever make it to Manchester, but generally the place sounds fun (even if I don't trust their New York-style "Pepperoni Playboy pizza").

• See anything at the Palace Theatre. This is another music hot spot in the cities, and has been open since the 1890s. But it's also where some of the best stage performances pass through town.

• Have a 12-course meal at Where The Light Gets In. As with any noteworthy city, Manchester has plenty of highly-recommended restaurants. But this place's tradition of serving a dynamic menu based on local produce sounds like tons of fun. 

• See a soccer (or football as they say) match at Old Trafford. This is the historic venue where the local club Manchester United plays, and even though I'm not a huge soccer gal, visiting sort of sounds like the best way to dive into the local culture. Manchester is soccer-crazy.

• (Or) see a match at Etihad Stadium. This is where Manchester City, the other big club in town, plays. And according to some of the top online bookmakers, City actually has better odds than United these days to compete with the top clubs.

• Shop at Afflecks. It's always fun to bring home a souvenir or two from a big trip overseas, and this indoor market full of vintage stores and mini-galleries seems perfect for it. Apparently there's even a tarot card reader.

• Have a pint! At least I think that's the right way to say it. Whatever the case, Manchester's said to have a great craft beer scene (even though I am not into beer, I would still love to experience the scene). I'll be heading to Port Street Beer House, basically on the grounds that it looks just the way you imagine a London pub. Plus, it's right by Piccadilly Gardens, which looks like a cool park-like space to hang out in.

Sounds like fun right? Can’t wait to visit! But in the mean time, comment down below and share your experiences with me :)