New York City
New York City, WOW! They say it's the city that never sleeps, where dreams are made and cultures collide, and they aren’t wrong!
We stayed at the Courtyard New York/Manhattan/Central Park which ended up being a very convenient location between Central Park and Times Square. We went over a long weekend arriving on a Friday afternoon and leaving the following Tuesday. We had a good three and half days to explore.
In Times Square the bright lights and bustling crowd were an overwhelming welcome to the city! Times square is like stepping into a movie screen, so much energy and so much happening around you.
It was raining the morning we went to Central Park, so we put on our rain coats and grabbed the umbrella and to say the least it was so peaceful walking through the park in the rain. The fresh air from the big trees made it so tranquil that you forget you are in the middle of a busy city. We strolled around looking for the fun statues and art around the park. Once we walked out we grabbed a famous Nathan's Hotdog from the hotdog stand, can’t leave NYC without trying one!
We walked to 5th Ave where there is a lot of shopping. I had to go into the famous Tiffany’s! Rockefeller Center is not far from there, the architecture is pretty amazing. Along the way we explored the NYC Public library, such a beautiful library. We made our way to Grand Central station, the architecture and interior design of this train station is a must see.
You can’t go to NYC and not see a Broadway show, we got to see Wicked. It was a fun experience to check out a show while we were there.
On our way to the piers to grab our cruise through Circle Line cruises we spotted the Intrepid Museum, we had some time to spare before we got on our boat and decided to get tickets to the museum. The museum is located on Pier 86, if you are someone that's interested in aviation, naval history and space exploration this is a great museum to visit.
We booked tickets through Circle Line Cruises and did the island skyline and bridges tour. It was pretty impressive to be able to see everything around the island from the water. We got to pass by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and go under several of the bridges including the Brooklyn Bridge. I highly recommend Circle Line Cruises. They also offer tours to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island if you want to explore the islands.
We took the train down to Lower Manhattan and got off at the Oculus station at the World Trade Center. From there we visited the 9/11 Memorial and got tickets to enter One World Observatory. This is quite the experience and well worth it, you get to see panoramic views of the city from the 100th floor.
Next, we visited Chinatown. The vibrant streets full of shops, markets, and authentic eateries are a world away from the high-speed hustle of Manhattan. Near Chinatown is Little Italy, with street performers and streets that smell of delicious Italian food.
If you plan on visiting, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Wear comfortable shoes! You’ll be doing a lot of walking.
2. Use the subway to get around—it's the fastest way to navigate the city.
3. Don't forget to immerse yourself in the local food scene; there are incredible eateries at every turn.
New York City is a place that energizes and inspires. I can’t wait to go back and discover even more hidden gems in this spectacular city! If you have any recommendations for my next visit, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.