Oh, Grand Central. 750,000 people pass through this iconic train station daily, while the rest of us try to avoid it like the plague. But on a recent Sunday, while I was showing my friend Jordan around by squeezing in tourist sites in between work events, I realized we were only a few (ok, 11) blocks from the architectural beauty. How could we avoid a visit, a chance to take photographs during what is likely the terminal’s slowest hour? We simply couldn’t.

The architecture is just stunning.

Grand Central was built in 1913 and retains a vintage feel.

The dining level is a personal favorite, and a fantastic place to kill two birds with one stone: Show guests Grand Central, and feed them some authentic New York City cuisine. Local favorites featured include Shake Shack and Magnolia Bakery. For a more upscale vibe, Oyster Bar is a fantastic place to grab a cocktail after a long workday.

While I am eternally grateful to avoid the midtown rush every day – I must admit, Grand Central Terminal is really something special.