Lately I have been in contact with lots of friends and friends of friends (serious amounts of friends) who want advice on traveling to the city. While I don't consider myself a Big Apple expert, I do know a few things and don't mind sharing what knowledge I do have. So, in the spirit of letting the NY memories live on, I want to write about some of my favorite city sights, eats, activities, etc. - maybe even give a few of my favorite itineraries for when visitors come sans plans.
This post will focus on getting all the touristy stuff out in a day or two, so you can use the rest of your time more wisely and see the stuff that really makes NY the real deal. When people come and see us I always tell them to make a list of what they want to do/see. This is what the list almost always looks like (more or less depending on their personal interests):
-Statue of Liberty
-9/11 Memorial
-Empire State Building
-China Town (knock off bags - don't do it!)
-Central Park
-Ride in a taxi
-Eat a hot dog
-Eat some pizza
-Eat some cheesecake
-Get an I love NY shirt
-Shopping
-See a Broadway (always with the side note - if we can get cheap tickets - ha!)
-See the Mormon Temple
-Brooklyn Bridge
-Metropolitan Museum of Art
-Anything you guys think is cool and isn't "touristy"
I always laugh at that last one. Sometimes, people come to visit and that last one is all that they have on their list...and I want to say, "I charge a hefty fee for planning your entire visit. So pay up or make some of your own choices, dang it!" Anyway, I have gotten pretty good at seeing the basic "touristy" stuff super fast. Depending on when you start and how much stamina your group has, you could do it all in one day. I will lay it out in three days so that I can throw in a few of those non-touristy activities that I think are cool.
*FYI - we live in Washington Heights (up above Harlem) so my schedule works from uptown to downtown and then into the other boroughs. Feel free to get creative and start somewhere else if you are staying in other parts of the city.
Day 1
-Start out the day at a diner - every neighborhood should have one. If not, the delis and guys in the carts make killer ham, egg and cheese sandwiches.
-First stop, Mormon Temple on 66th and Broadway
-Once you've awed at how much it doesn't look like a Mormon Temple and snapped a few pics, head across the street the see Lincoln Center - the grounds of Juilliard and the Metropolitan Opera House, just for some culture.
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| We stumbled upon this skating party in Central Park and stayed to watch for 20 minutes. You never know what you might see! |
-Walk down 5th Avenue towards 42nd St. While you trot down this famous and fancy street you can get some of that "shopping" done (don't worry, if Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman aren't your thing there are plenty of budget friendly shops). Also, don't forget to stop and see Rockefellar Square (huge Christmas tree and ice skating from November to January) and across 5th Ave you can enjoy self-guided tour of the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral.
-Once you are on 42nd and 5th you might be getting hungry for some lunch. Head to any corner cart to try that hot dog you've always wanted...or, for those with finer taste, head to Grand Central Terminal - 42nd and Vanderbilt - where you can admire the gigantic ceilings, whisper to each other from the corners of the outer corridors and head to the basement for a variety of delicious NY eats. We personally like Shake Shack (a real must-have in my humble opinion), Two Boots Pizzeria (go inside and order a whole pie, you won't regret it), and Magnolia Bakery (skip the cupcakes and get the blueberry cheesecake, its worth the $8).
-Once you are back outside, head west on 42nd Street and either go to Times Square (I think it is cooler at night though) or head to the famous NY Public Library to see yet another beautifully built, historical building in NYC. If that isn't your thing, no problem. Keep walking down 5th Ave (the street numbers should be counting down...).
-Once you get to 34th and 5th you will see the Empire State Building...if just seeing it is enough for you this area is another good one for shopping. Walking west on 34th you will see plenty of stores worth checking out, although lots are repeats from 5th ave...until you get to Macy's. It's huge, and totally overwhelming, but some people love it. My favorite thing to do in the store is find the old wooden escalator and take a ride or two.
*Side Note: This neighborhood is also a crafters dream. The garment district is technically between 34th and 42nd streets between 5th and 9th ave. A few of my visitors have been especially interested in Mood the fabric store made famous by Project Runway. Around Mood (37th St. btwn 7th and 8th Ave - on the 3rd floor) there are lots of other specialty shops that I happen to think are amazing. If you are shopping for notions, there are stores dedicated solely to each and every one. Stores that have only buttons and zippers, elastic and ribbons. Even a warehouse that sells only spandex. I got the fabric for my wedding dress (not spandex, although that would have been neat) in one of the shops around the area for $10/yard and couldn't find it anywhere in Utah for less than $25/yard. It really is amazing.
-Once you have made your way west around the 34th Street area, head on down to 30th and 10th Ave. so you can walk the High Line. Originally a freight rail line, this elevated park is truly amazing. You can choose to walk all the way down to 14th street or use one of the other exits on your way, but don't miss the vendors as you go. Most are located at the lower end of the park (closer to the 14th Street entrance) and are seriously worth a visit or two...seriously. Our favorites are Newyorkina and Melt Bakery (best ice cream sandwiches around), but the others won't really disappoint, in all honesty.
-If you exit down by 14th street and you are looking for more treats, I would suggest checking out Chelsea Market. It's home to plenty of good eats, an Anthropology and a store front that usually holds a sample sale for some cool, designer clothing company.
-Once you are back outside head east on 14th street towards 8th ave. There you can take the subway and head on uptown, or you can continue walking down towards Union Square. If it isn't too late in the day you can enjoy the beautiful farmer's market (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) or check out the other vendors selling art and jewelry. From November to December there is also a cool holiday market where you can buy unique gifts from independent vendors. If you are in town during the winter months and looking for something cool to take home, this is a great place to stop.
-Are you exhausted yet? Because there is one last place I hope you can stop before you call it an evening. If it is cold outside, don't miss out on some seriously rich hot chocolate at Max Brenner (on Broadway btwn 14th and 13th) and then head over to Strand Books (Broadway and 12th) where any bibliophile might feel like they have died and gone to literary heaven. They don't have every book, but I can almost 100% guarantee that they have at least one book for every human being...and that is pretty impressive. You can also pick up a cool Strand Books tote as a souvenir and voila! You have a non-traditional souvenir from NYC that the locals use too.
-IF you are really feeling adventurous, head on up to 42nd street and Broadway so you can experience Times Square at night. Most retail in the area is open 24 hours a day so you won't miss out on anything once you get there. If it isn't too late and you are looking for a chance to snag some delicious Italian food, there is an Olive Garden right in Times Square! Super kidding. Please try not to eat at any restaurant you can find back home...for a real NYC experience, try John's Pizzeria (on 44th btwn 7th and 8th ave) where they do whole pies, no slices. These brick oven pizzas, made to order with fresh dough and homemade tomato sauce are no joke. Plus, the restaurant is located in a super cool old building that used to be a church and a theater. Seriously, it's a great dining experience.
-Now, after the sensory overload you've just experienced, you should be tuckered out and headed home for the night. Go enjoy the best night's sleep you have every had so you can get up and be back at it tomorrow morning!
A Few More Pointers:
-We have found that the Google Maps app on our phones gets us anywhere we need to go in the city. You can even specify whether you want walking directions OR public transit directions and they are pretty spot on. You also don't need to know a specific address. Just put in the name of your destination, ex: Times Square, and it will get you there!
-Also, if something on my list above doesn't make you swoon its no prob. You can easily leave out something you don't want to do and plug in something that fits your agenda better. Just do your research beforehand so that you don't spend your day traveling from one place to another place and then back to the same place again.
Sometimes, I just imagine that they are singing to me and not Judy Garland...
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