In most of my travels I like to experience the city like a local as much as possible, but when in NYC why not go all-out tourist. My mom, grandmother, sister and I, along with my grandfather (bless him!) went on an all-out tourist trip to NYC in April, and boy did we love it. I’m excited to share with you some of my can’t miss things to do!
Eat:
Street Food: Some of the best food in the city is served out of a cart on the street corner. Nathan’s hot dogs are iconic and Halal Guys (as the name implies) serves amazing halal.
Tavern on the Green: In the heart of Central Park you will find one of the most beautiful restaurants in the country. Tavern on the Green is a gorgeous elegant American style restaurant that’s been open since the 1930’s (except for a short hiatus from 2009-2014). While a bit pricey, the meal and atmosphere are unforgettable.
Macarons at Ladurée: While NYC is home of some of the most wonderful desserts in the country I just couldn’t help but fall in love with the colorful macarons at Ladurée. They have so many flavors to choose from and every single one is amazing. The atmosphere will make you feel like you stepped out of the hustle and bustle of NYC and straight into Paris.
Black and white cookies: This might just be the best cookie I’ve ever tasted. You can find these NYC staples just about anywhere in and around the city.
Bagels: You can’t go to New York and not try a bagel. The city is known for Bagels and Lox, but I’m not much of a salmon person, so I just stuck with a bagel with cream cheese. These bagels did not disappoint! We tried out Best Bagel & Coffee, but there is a bagel shop on every other corner.
Tour:
Marvel at the views at the Top of the Rock: Most people’s first thought is to go to the top of the Empire State Building, but the views from the Top of The Rock are so much better! The best part is you get pictures with the Empire State Building in them!
See Times Square at night: We visited Times Square multiple times during our trip. At first I have to admit that I was underwhelmed. While an impressive site I thought it looked better in movies, that is until I went at night! The billboards and lights are magnificent when they are all shining bright together. It’s a must see spot at night.
See a show: NYC is known for Broadway musicals and plays. There are so many to choose from, so there is something for everyone! The prices of the shows range quite a bit depending on the show, day, and time of performance. We went to see Kinky Boots and everyone loved it, even my grandfather!
Stroll in Central Park: Central Park is even bigger in person than it seems on TV and it was gorgeous. While the park was busy with people walking, running, or just enjoying the sun it still was not overwhelming or crowded. A walk in the park is a lovely way to spend a day!
Get a bus pass: This probably the most tourist thing we did on our whole trip. There are a ton of different bus companies in the city, but we opted for the Big Bus tour. This made it so easy to get around the city to all the major sites including the Raging Bull, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Statue of Liberty boat.
Visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty: If you’re a history buff be sure not to miss Ellis Island. There is so much to learn about how immigrants were processed into the country for over 60 years at the beginning of the 1900s. My great grandparents came to the United States through Ellis Island and it was so cool to be able to find their name on the wall that lists all the immigrants’ names that came through the island. To get to Ellis Island you can take the same boat that takes you to the Statue of Liberty. While it is neat to go up the statue, I’d recommend skipping this activity and taking close up pictures from the boat.
Tour the 9/11 Memorial: Brace yourself for overwhelming emotions at this one. The memorial and museum were so beautifully done. It is a beautiful tribute to all the first responders and those who lost their lives that day. We only gave ourselves about 3 hours to go through the museum, but we could have used 3 more. Make sure to give yourself enough time or pace yourself to make sure you get to see the whole thing.
Ice Skate at Rockefeller Center: I must be honest, I was not super excited about this activity, but I’m so glad now that I did it! Ice skating at Rockefeller Center really is a bucket list item. It can get very busy very fast, so make sure you get your tickets early. Take a few laps around the rink and spin like a figure skater, then check this off your NYC bucket list!
Hike across the Brooklyn Bridge: Okay, so maybe don’t hike all the way across unless you are really looking for some extra exercise. We walked halfway and then turned around to walk back. If your schedule allows, walk or bike across the bridge and explore all the neat things Brooklyn has to offer.
