It is difficult to even know where to even begin when advising on what to do in New York City. When I returned from our girls trip to New York I began jotting down notes, What started as a “what we did post” had me reflecting on many other great trips to New York which quickly turned into a list of 30 awesome things I have done or want to do in New York.

 

While I was living in D.C. New York served as my home away from home, I would frequently visit the big apple on weekends or holidays. Back then I was blending in with locals in Brooklyn or meeting up with friends in Queens. One time I even took the bus up to NYC to meet up with a group of photographers from London (who I had never met) in a warehouse outside Manhattan. Maybe not my safest decision but I ended up making a great friendship out of it.

 

This last trip transported me back to my twelve-year-old self…the very first time I set foot in the city that never sleeps. Maybe you’ve never been or maybe this is your tenth trip but I tried to collect a bunch of different things (free and costly) so there is a little for everyone.

Things you must do when going to New York for the first time:

See a Broadway Play

Without fail no matter how many times I have visited Manhattan or for how short of time a Broadway play is always a must.

Times Square (at night)

The hub of marketing madness and scene of the ball dropping to ring in the new year is hypnotizing.

Walk Central Park

Possibly my favorite part of the city is when you are deep enough in Central Park to have near silence and then climb onto a rock, so you can get a view of the jungle of buildings surrounding you. It’s Surreal to have such fresh air and natural beauty resting in the middle of the man-made surrounding.

Sail by the Statue of Liberty

Or even see it at all –  we hopped on a sail boat this trip to see the statue, but in the past, I have done the public ferry which takes off from down by the financial district… if I remember right it’s about $5 per person and still gives you a good view of the statue.

Cross the Brooklyn Bridge

Although it is normally swarmed with a sea of people the bridge is beautiful and early in the morning is a much more joyful stroll.

Visit Ground Zero

I don’t think I can say anything else. It’s a beautiful memorial for a terrible event and it’s something I highly recommend seeing on each visit to remind you how great it is just to be alive.

Ride the subway

You need to meet all of New York’s locals – even the subway rats. Haha only kidding I haven’t seen many down there but riding the subway is actually one of the fastest ways around town. It beats all the traffic and is the cheapest way around town.

Eat pizza – all the time

Whether it’s two in the afternoon or two in the morning there are pizza shops on nearly as many corners as Starbucks.

Visit the Empire State Building

With views of Times Square and the piers, my favorite time to visit this attraction is near sunset.

Window shop 5th avenue

Even if you are a guy I think you will like this shopping. The window displays are amazing.

If you have been to NYC before & are heading back here are some other things you should do:

Visit the Met

A museum so big you can seriously get lost; the Metropolitan Museum is a must. My favorite section is located in the basement and is currently sporting a large assortment of Catholic jewels.

Go to the Top of the Rock

And if you are there during winter ice skate here under the giant Christmas tree.

Have brunch on the corner of Central Park or the Upper East Side

There are a plethora of options – and although everyone wants breakfast at The Plaza – there are a bunch of amazing places!

Chelsea market

Come hungry – because you will leave full. The smells in the market are some of the very best. I have never had a bad thing to eat at the market.

Walk the High Line

Located just above Chelsea Market the High Line is a park above the city that was made on train tracks. Much less well known than central park (but still very crowded) it’s a beautiful way to see the city, including Hudson Yards a new part of the city that is being built over the old shipping yards.

See the flat iron building

That’s really all it is, a very oldy shaped piece of architecture but you’ve gotta see

Get Macaroons from Ladurée

Gossip girl dreams coming true all over the place haha. If you read many of my posts you also know these are what Zac likes to joke ‘sealed the deal’ with us when he returned from Paris.

Grand Central Station

Am I too much of a kid because every time I go in here I just think of Madagascar. There are shops, beautiful architecture and it also showcases some of the best people watching in all of North America.

Christmas windows

If you haven’t been to New York between Thanksgiving and the New Year than it’s an entirely new experience that you really should see. Although you need to bundle up the magic of New York is much stronger (if you ask me) with the added mistletoe and Christmas trees.

Go to Wonder Wheel Amusement Park at Coney Island

Not only are the rides a blast and the food is good. Coney Island also gives you a real beach. Which when I was living in a city was something I craved. Even if the water is a bit chilly!

 

 

 

 

Things I still haven’t done that I want too:

Show New York to Zac

Yes as cheesy as it sounds I want to be who shows this amazing city to my hubby & I really want to be there the first time he takes everything in – even the smell of the trash piles Sunday night.

Learn Cirque Du Soleil from acrobats on the pier

I didn’t know this existed til our last day in NYC this time but there really is a place where you can learn from acrobats and I think it looks amazing.

See more & more Broadway plays

I will never get enough, I sort of hate to admit it but I am one of those weird people where if I am having a bad day I will blast some music from a play I’ve seen and belt it out.

Jetski to the Statue of Liberty

We saw some people doing it while we were there, it looks extremely cold but extremely fun.

See a baseball game at Yankee stadium

Although it better be against the Red Sox & for my husband’s sanity the Sox better win. Hahaha as was apparent from our trip to Boston, Zac is a huge Red Sox fan.

Visit Harlem

Known for gospel and hip-hop roots it’s near Manhattan and somewhere not every tourist visits (if you have spent time in Harlem I would love to know what you did/recommend).

Visit Chelsea Pier

Chelsea pier is full of restaurants and fun, a common place for celebrity birthday parties it looks like it could be a great way to spend a rainy day in New York.

Tour Ellis Island

Although I have seen it many times I have never actually gone through the buildings that so many immigrants came through seeking a better life, it’s a piece of history I would love to know more about.

Visit China town

As with many cities, NYC has a China town and I can’t remember ever venturing to it. When we spent an extended weekend in San Francisco last year I really enjoyed exploring their version and would love to experience New York’s.

Go to a “Night Show” 

That is most certainly the wrong title for what I mean hahah but oh well. I really want to see Colbert, SNL, Kimmel, or Fallen one day cause I think seeing them live would just be amazing. Fun fact if you tour the studio you actually get to sit at one of their desks and when I did that in college my roomie and freaked out when we found out! hahaha.