The Top 10 Things to Do in New York, NY
#10 -
Times Square
The bustling center of the city with shops, hotels, restaurants, broadway shows, you name it and it is here. We prefer to stay in a hotel in Times Square as its central location provides easy subway access to anywhere that you plan on visiting. Bright lights illuminate the skyscrapers with ads of Coca-Cola and the next biggest movie. Look up to see the New Year’s ball waiting for its next midnight drop. The air is full of excitement as New Yorkers and tourists alike take in all this city has to offer. Grab a snack from a nearby food cart and duck into one of the many tourist shops that line the streets. Pick up your favorite NYC sweatshirt and other silly souvenirs before heading over to Radio City Music Hall or taking a tour at NBC Studios. For dessert, stop back over at the Hershey’s or M & M’s store for some yummy treats! We also highly recommend doing dinner and a broadway show while here..
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#9 -
Central Park
A relaxing retreat surrounded by a skyscraper skyline, this park is one of our favorite places in NYC. Take a long walk through the park, or even ride some bikes! Enjoy the bridges, music, artists along the walkways, gardens, and waterfalls as you stroll along. Stop for lunch or a drink at the Loeb Boathouse or even rent a canoe and go out on the water. You could visit this park more than one time during your trip and see new things! Other notable attractions here include Belvedere Castle, Alice in Wonderland statue, the carousel, the zoo, and several museums. Depending on where you are staying, you can walk to the park or take a quick subway ride.
#8 -
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Built to honor those affected by the September 11, 2001 and 1993 attacks, this memorial is truly breathtaking. It stands as a reminder of those we lost, those who survived, and families affected by these tragedies. Walk along the astounding twin memorial pools and touch the names of the thousands we now remember. Visit the Survivor Tree and Memorial Glades as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice shown by many. Look up at the buildings surrounding the plaza to catch a glimpse of the endless sky as you reflect upon this time in history. This memorial is easily accessible by subway and if you take the Greenwich exit, you will be awed by the Oculus transportation hub that is a work of art itself. There are also many restaurants, shops, and hotels nearby for your convenience.
#7 -
Statue of Liberty
Enjoy a Ferry ride over to the famous Liberty Island. While there, take in the majestic Statue of Liberty and even go inside! This important part of history became a National Monument in 1924 and stands as a symbol for democracy and freedom. Tours are available to visit the pedestal, or even better, the crown. You can also visit the Statue of Liberty Museum to learn more about this treasure’s history. Part of some ticket packages include a stop at Ellis Island, where you can set foot in the Immigration Museum which will teach you about the process that so many of our ancestors took to become American citizens.
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#6 -
NBC Studio Tour/Top of the Rock
Enjoy incredible 360 degree views from the top of the Rockefeller building on its Observation Deck. Great opportunity for pictures here! You do have to purchase a ticket, but this is also included on the New York City Pass. Inside, take the Rockefeller Center Tour or NBC Tour. The NBC tour allowed us to walk onto sets and take a look into how some of our favorite T.V. programs are broadcast. This includes The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and Light Night with Seth Meyers. You might even get a chance to produce your own show! We also enjoyed the gift shop with souvenirs from shows such as Friends, SNL, and The Office. Pretty funny stuff!
#5 -
Empire State Building
One of the things that makes NYC so unique is all of the amazing architecture. A prime example of this is the historic Empire State Building. Once known as the world’s tallest building, this art deco masterpiece gives its visitors a look at the history of the building as well as incredible views from its observation deck (on the top, 102nd floor!). You can buy tickets in advance for all of their experiences, and once again, it’s offered on the NY City Pass.
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#4 -
Little Italy
Stumble upon this great neighborhood full of food and fun! Love italian food and culture like we do? Then this is a great stop on your trip. We happened to visit when they were putting on their annual Feast of San Gennaro, which occurs every September and pays tribute to the Patron Saint of Naples. We’d never seen anything like it, with all of the restaurants serving small bites outside and carnival games and other festivities lining the streets. Be prepared for a crowd and if possible, make reservations if you have your eye on a certain restaurant.
#3 -
Baseball Games
Take me out to the ballgame! New York offers baseball at the major league level in both the American and National leagues with the Yankees and the Mets, respectively. Visiting either will involve a decently long subway ride; the purple 7 train will take you to Queens to the Met’s ballpark while the orange D or green 4 trains will take you to the Bronx to see the Yankees. Both teams built new ballparks in 2009, so a trip to either will give you a taste of the modern baseball experience yet also giving you the historic feel of the celebrated franchises. Yankee tickets are infamously the most expensive in baseball, so aim for a weeknight game if you’re looking to save some money. Having been to every MLB ballpark (we’re big baseball fans obviously), we would highly recommend taking in a Mets game at Citi Field, as the stadium is so well done and offers many unique treats and experiences.
#2 -
Broadway Shows
A show on Broadway is second to none. High production value, wonderful singers/dancers, and famous actors are some of the reasons that make Broadway a one of a kind experience. Broadway shows are ever changing, but some of the best that we’ve seen are Hamilton, Wicked, and the Lion King. Broadway shows can be pricey, so make sure to take advantage of things like TKTS Discount Booth in Times Square and resell sites like Stubhub. Make a night of it with dinner and a show. Last trip, we had a delicious meal at Patsy’s (a Frank Sinatra favorite) before walking over to catch the Lion King. It was an unforgettable night!
#1 -
Wall Street
Walk on over to Wall Street to see where all the magic happens. This is a good idea if you are already near Battery Park or are visiting the Statue of Liberty or 9/11 Memorial. Touch the famous Stock Market Bull and pose in front of the New York Stock Exchange. You can also see Federal Hall, where George Washington took his oath to serve as president.
Click here to learn about our top 10 things to do in another incredible city!