After living in the city where "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York" was shot, it quickly became my favorite film from the series.McCallister escapes the bad guys in a horse-drawn carriage in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is a John Hughes and Chris Columbus collaboration following the first "Home Alone" movie, which took place in the Chicago suburbs.In "Home Alone 2," Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, is heading out for the holidays with his family. After a series of mistakes, McCallister ends up on the wrong plane it's flying to NYC instead of Miami, where the rest of his family is headed.Once he lands, McCallister explores the city solo and eventually runs into Harry and Marv, the same bad guys from the first movie, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.The movie was released in 1992. More than 30 years later, many of the scenes look similar to NYC today. I enjoyed reliving scenes and touring some of the real-life locations from the film while living in NYC.The author poses with friends in Times Square. Monica Humphries/Business Insider "Home Alone 2" is filled with plenty of famous and not so famous New York destinations.I rewatched the classic Christmas movie to see how the film holds up to reality. The opening plot involves McCallister landing in an unfamiliar airport with views of New York.McCallister arrives at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, in "Home Alone 2". 20th Century Fox After mistaking a man in a tan jacket for his father, McCallister arrives in NYC with the cityscape on full display in the background.Initially feeling defeated, McCallister quickly realizes that a solo trip to New York City could be a fun adventure.Let's just say I haven't seen views like that in real life at LaGuardia Airport.LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Maybe it's because I'm always in a frantic rush to get to the airport on time, but the views from LaGuardia Airport's windows have yet to impress me as they did in the movie. McCallister then catches a taxi and heads into Manhattan on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.McCallister rides a taxi across the Queensboro Bridge in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox After the shock and worry of what just happened, McCallister decides to make the most of his stay in NYC.Fortunately, he has his father's carry-on bag, complete with his dad's credit card, cash, and a Polaroid camera.He hails a cab and crosses into Manhattan, where his adventure begins. The bridge is the same one that similarly marked the start or end of any adventure of mine in New York, and it looks like not much has changed since 1992.The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in NYC. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images In the movie, McCallister rides in a now-outdated taxi. Today, most taxis are modern cars, although they'vekept their iconic yellow color.When it comes to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, it hasn't changed. The only difference I spotted is that in 2010, "Ed Koch" was added to the front of the bridge's title after former Mayor Edward I. Koch. Once he arrives in Manhattan, McCallister goes on a grand tour. A couple of quick shots feature him across the city. The first destination is Radio City Music Hall.McCallister at Radio City Music Hall in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox These scenes go by quickly as McCallister visits neighborhoods and iconic spots sprinkled across the entire island. While the exterior of the music hall hasn't changed much since the film, it's missing the hordes of people I see swarming the destination.Radio City Music Hall. Monica Humphries/Insider The movie takes place during the holiday season. I was surprised there weren't more people in the background of this scene, which takes place in Midtown Manhattan, a neighborhood that is typically bustling with tourist activity.Come wintertime, Radio City Music Hall typically teems with people eager to spot a Rockettes performance. Viewers also spot McCallister in front of Empire Diner, a classic, all-American establishment.McCallister crosses paths with Santa in front of Empire Diner in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The short scene features McCallister crossing paths with a Santa on stilts outside the Empire Diner. Today, the diner has a fresh look with a mural called "Mount Rushmore of Art."A picture of Empire Diner after the mural was painted. Tom G./Yelp The diner at 210 10th Avenue in New York's Chelsea neighborhood opened in 1976.Since then, the diner has closed and reopened a few times with new owners. Today, it's led by executive chef Jestin Feggan.The diner looks the same as it did in the movie, but behind it is a colorful mural painted by Eduardo Kobra. The mural features Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. After passing the diner, McCallister stops at Quong Yuen Shing & Co in Chinatown, which closed in 2003.McCallister leaving Quong Yuen Shing & Co. in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox QIn the "Home Alone 2" script, it also sold firecrackers, which McCallister stuffs into his backpack as he exits the store.In the mid-1980s, the store received a new name, 32 Mott Street General Store, and in 2003, it closed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, The New York Times reported.While visitors can no longer stop at this specific spot, they can head to Chinatown in Lower Manhattan to explore its history and discover delicious eats.Next, McCallister treks to the bottom of Manhattan for a view of the Statue of Liberty through coin-operated binoculars.McCallister in Battery Park in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox McCallister looks out into the water and spots the Statue of Liberty. Surprisingly, this will be the only time we see this iconic landmark in the two-hour movie. The binoculars are no longer there, but the park is still the best place in Manhattan to spot Lady Liberty.No binoculars in sight at The Battery. Ivan Peralta Santana/Getty Images The Battery, a 22-acre public park, is one of my favorite parks in Manhattan thanks to its water and greenery.For the most part, I think the movie gets it right. By that, I mean that the Statue of Liberty is far enough to need binoculars for a close-up view. However, you'll have to bring your own since the coin-operated ones no longer exist in the park. McCallister manages to make his way to the top of one of the Twin Towers next.McCallister at the top of one of the Twin Towers in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The World Trade Center was comprised of seven buildings. McCallister makes his way up 110 stories to view the city from one of the Twin Towers. While you can't head to the same observation deck, the One World Observatory offers a similar bird's-eye view of the city.A view from One World Observatory. Monica Humphries/Insider On September 11, 2001, both Twin Towers collapsed in a terrorist attack, destroying the observation deck McCallister visits.The closest thing to McCallister's view today is the One World Observatory.The experience is 102 stories high, compared to McCallister's 110 stories. It's also enclosed, unlike the Twin Towers' outdoor observation deck. We spot McCallister at the Fulton Fish Market. He barely misses some familiar faces we haven't seen in "Home Alone 2" yet, Harry and Marv.McCallister at the Fulton Fish Market in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox This scene is Harry and Marv's entrance to the movie. The two have escaped from prison and are spotted in New York in the back of a fish delivery truck. They've traveled to NYC to steal money.The fish market is portrayed as a bustling place in the movie. Visitors won't find the Fulton Fish Market at the same location anymore. In 2005, the fish market moved to Hunt's Point in the Bronx.The New Fulton Fish Market. Jim B./Yelp Today, the fish market is entirely different than the one pictured in "Home Alone 2."Opened in 1822, the market existed at South Street Seaport for over a hundred years. In 2005, it moved to an enclosed space in the Bronx.Tourists and buyers arrive early the market opens at 2 a.m. on most days.While it might look drastically different from the movie, I can guarantee it has the same smell. After walking through the fish market, McCallister heads to Central Park. There, he sees The Plaza Hotel and has a run-in with the Pigeon Lady.The Plaza Hotel in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The Pigeon Lady will become an essential character later in the movie, but upon their first encounter, she scares McCallister.McCallister runs away and heads to The Plaza Hotel, aka "New York's most exciting hotel experience," which is how McCallister refers to it while reciting a commercial he watched in the movie. While I can't say if the hotel is New York City's most exciting from its exterior, it is real, and I've admired it from the same location McCallister did in this scene.A view of the Plaza Hotel. fotog/Getty Images Standing in the southeast corner of Central Park, visitors can get a complete picture of the famous building.Its exterior hasn't changed much. The iconic hotel is still one of New York's most famous hotels. It was built in 1907, and in 1969, it was designated an official landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.On the way to the Plaza, he runs past a statue of Argentine general Jos de San Martn.A statue of Argentine general Jos de San Martn in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The statue points McCallister in the direction of the hotel. The statue can be spotted in Central Park South.The statue can be seen in Central Park South. Ira L. Black/Corbis/Getty Images/Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket/Getty Images The general is known for helping Argentina, Chile, and Peru gain independence from the Spanish, according to NYC Parks.Today, it looks the same as it did in the movie and can be spotted at Central Park South and Avenue of the Americas. When McCallister finally makes it inside The Plaza Hotel, he has the guts to stage a fake hotel reservation and meets a famous face.McCallister runs into Donald Trump in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox Once McCallister finally makes it to the hotel, he explores the extravagant lobby.It's decorated for the holiday season, and pots are filled with poinsettias.In the lobby, McCallister runs into Donald Trump, who is playing himself the owner of The Plaza Hotel. As Business Insider previously reported, Trump, who no longer owns the hotel, insisted on having a cameo in the film.Later in the scene, McCallister uses a fake voice to call and make a reservation for a suite. While I haven't stayed in The Plaza Hotel, present-day images from the inside depict the same luxury created in the film.The Plaza Hotel decorated for Christmas in 2021. Benno Schwinghammer/picture alliance/Getty Images McCallister enjoys the hotel's pool and orders an ultimate room service experience.Since 1992, the hotel has updated some of its interior and offerings, but the essence and luxury of the experience remain the same.My guess is that it's much more expensive compared to when McCallister would've stayed. According to the hotel's website, rooms are priced between $1,000 and $33,000 for a night this January.While McCallister enjoys the hotel's pool, Marv is ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park.Marv and Harry at Wollman Rink in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox This scene is where the duo gets the idea to rob a toy store. Wollman Rink is a real ice skating rink and hasn't changed much since the 1990s.The author poses with a friend in front of Wollman Rink. Monica Humphries/Insider/RBL/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images I've watched plenty of children and adults take a tumble at Wollman Rink.The ice skating rink opened in 1950. Each November, it opens to the public for skating. In the summer, the area is a popular pickball court location.Later, McCallister is ready to explore the city again, but this time, he hires a limousine to take him to Duncan's Toy Chest.Duncan's Toy Chest in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox Here, McCallister sets foot into a store brimming with stuffed animals, musical instruments, and toys for all ages. Duncan's Toy Chest doesn't exist in real life, but it is based on the actual toy store, FAO Schwarz.A doorman stands outside FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Center on November 15, 2021. Noam Galai/Getty Images Lonely Planet said that Duncan's Toy Chest is based on the real New York City toy store, FAO Schwarz.The actual store wasn't used for filming. Instead, filming took place in Chicago, with exterior shots from Chicago's historic The Rookery and interior scenes filmed in The Uptown Theater, The Sun reported.I've stopped at FAO Schwarz once or twice and spotted the same joy and excitement depicted in the film.However, many physical elements have changed. The store temporarily closed in 2015 and moved locations, and in 2018, it reopened at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.In the time since the movie came out, many of the store's current toys are different from the ones seen in the movie. McCallister runs into Harry and Marv at the toy store and quickly darts into Central Park for his getaway.McCallister stows away in a carriage to escape in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox As McCallister hops into the back of a horse-drawn carriage to escape Harry and Marv, the audience learns that this isn't the first, and likely won't be the last time McCallister visits the famous park.In fact, McCallister wanders through Central Park a handful of times throughout the film. It's where McCallister spots the Plaza Hotel, stows away in a horse-drawn carriage, and befriends the Pigeon Lady. Central Park pops up in a few places throughout the movie, and I think it looks the same.The author poses with friends in Central Park. Monica Humphries/Insider Throughout the film, McCallister is spotted across Manhattan's largest park.Yes, people still feed pigeons, and horse-drawn carriages still exist.As with any film shot decades ago, things will look different, but the crowds, and lack thereof, remain true.I've explored areas of the 840-acre park that are both eerily quiet and swarmed with people. Overall, the film's depiction of the park is pretty accurate, based on my experience.No movie set in New York would be complete without a stop at Times Square.Times Square in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox McCallister makes his way to Times Square, which has some of the heaviest foot traffic in all of NYC. The movie depicts Times Square as being relatively spacious and empty, which isn't the case today.Times Square. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images I find Times Square to typically be pure chaos with crowds of tourists, business people, and performers filling the streets.I was surprised to see it so empty in the movie. One of the final scenes in the city features McCallister admiring the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza.McCallister in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox At the end of the movie, McCallister reunites with his mother in the plaza, who flew to New York to search for her son.In the movie, the plaza is entirely empty. In reality, Rockefeller Plaza would never be that empty during the holidays.Rockefeller Plaza. Monica Humphries/Insider During my first winter in New York, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the holiday season by admiring the city's lights, window displays, and music, but I instantly regretted visiting Rockefeller Plaza.The plaza was packed, and I remember having to push my way through the crowds to catch a glimpse of the tree.In fact, I doubt the plaza is ever as empty as it is in "Home Alone 2."While I'm glad I checked it off my bucket list, I have no desire to go back. There are plenty of places I cherish from "Home Alone 2," and I'm happy to report that the movie's depiction of NYC still rings true today.The author poses with a friend on Brooklyn Bridge. Monica Humphries/Insider There's no place like NYC, especially during the holidays.Watching "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is still a reminder of the magic the city has each winter, no matter how much has changed since the movie came out.