How to really see NYC
I am originally from New York. I relocated to Tennessee in the early 2000s. Over the years, I have taken many friends to NYC to enjoy what the city has to offer. These are my personal opinions. None of the businesses have partnered or compensated me for mentioning them in this blog. This is my insight into what a trip to NYC is like for a former NYer.
Sightseeing Tips
You can wait in line and pay a fortune to take the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. The Statue is beautiful up close and you can do a loop around the statue then go inside and see the gift shop. However, the better view is on the Staten Island Ferry. For free, you can take the Staten Island Ferry and cross right in front of the Statue of Liberty for amazing photos. You can go at sunrise or sunset! It is a 30 minute ride over and a 30 minute ride back but so comfortable and fun.
You will get amazing pictures if you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Now, if you are not in great shape, you may not want to do this in which case there are other views you can enjoy from the South Street Seaport. When you walk the bridge, especially on the weekend, there will be many vendors with food and drinks in case you need an energy burst, but it is not cheap. Bring your own water on the walk and then splurge on some food on the other side of the bridge in Brooklyn. Many people eat at Grimaldi’s but I would recommend Juliana’s if that’s as far into Brooklyn as you want to go. As a child, many people would go to Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn. I have even heard that there is amazing pizza over in Harlem. I mean Sottocasa has a Harlem location now.
When in NYC, you really need to see Times Square at night and get the full experience of what all those billboards are like but be careful of the crowds. There are people dressed in different costumes often Batman and Spiderman are at the 42nd Street corner to pose for pictures. If you pose with them, they will want money! Don’t do it! Also be careful of the people doing the three-card monty games which are also scams. These are teams of people each playing a role with the only goal of scamming you out of cash. You may get hungry after walking around Times Square but do not eat there especially at one of those chain restaurants. There are so many small businesses in NYC that could use your foot traffic in their diners and shops.
Central Park is huge and could take an entire day to see and experience especially in the warmer months when people rollerskate and bike or go to the zoo. There are fountains and statues and so many amazing walkways in the park. It is amazing but one cool way to see the park is to take a cross-town bus and go from the east side to the west side through the park. The bus ride gives you an idea of how wide the park is; however, the park is longer than it is wide. You may want to see Columbus Circle before you head over to the park.
Eating Tips
Many people think of NYC and hot dogs! You may even see a Nathan’s cart or a hot dog street vendor selling dogs. For me, the best dogs are at Grey’s Papaya. There used to be a location in the Village and Uptown. The uptown location is Broadway and 72nd Street. Get the local special and try one of the special papaya drinks. For Italian food not far from Times Square, take a walk over to Carmine’s in the theater district. But again, there are many small businesses like the Indian food places in the East Village around 6th Street and also more Indian food over by the Murray Hill area of NYC. If you are in the Village look for pastries at Venieros they also have different cheesecake in addition to Italian pastries and coffee. However, many people love Juniors cheesecake. I personally have fallen in love with Keki Modern Cakes on Mott Street in Chinatown. While you are in Chinatown, you can visit Wo Hop for excellent and filling Chinese food (it is hidden below the sidewalk, look for the sign). For dim sum, I would suggest the oldest place going all the way back to the 1920s, Nom Wah Tea Parlor; however, I have heard there are other amazing dim sum and pork buns out there that a walking food tour covers. Chinatown is not to be missed! Yes, it will smell a little fishy depending on what street you walk on, but something about walking on Canal Street and experiencing the volume of people is exciting.
Other Things to Do
Museums are too numerous to mention, however, in my experience these are the ones that are worth the money and the trip:
MoMA-for modern art, there is no better museum, they have Van Gogh’s Starry Night
American Museum of Natural History-you can see gems and crystals, fossils, and ancient artifacts
Guggenheim-more modern art but I mean really modern, cutting edge stuff, and the building is cool
Metropolitian Museum of Art-especially if you like Egyptian stuff
The Morgan Library & Museum-this is a small but wonderful hidden museum, if you are not sure you can go to their cafe and gift shop for free, the exhibits rotate so check online what’s currently on exhibit
Frick Collection-doing renovations until 2025, this small museum used to be a home, see how the rich and famous lived back in the day
9/11 Museum-heard they have updated it since I have visited but they had amazing artifacts and displays about the event and the people involved at the World Trade Center
Intrepid Museum-for those who love military history
There is also the theatre district, shopping down on Park Avenue, the garment district, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Cloisters, and Rockafeller Center with the Top of the Rock. The point is whatever you enjoy doing there is a place to do it in New York City. I’ve had friends that have done Vrbo and stayed in Brooklyn and Queens. They loved it because they had the additional experience of being outside the city. However, unless you are doing the subway, getting into the city can get expensive. The MetroCard is a great bargain to experience and ride the subway. If you have concerns about going underground, the MetroCard works on the bus also. On a rainy day, taking a bus from the tip where the Staten Island Ferry is (Whitehall) all the way to Uptown (Harlem) would be a good way to see what NYC has to offer. If you have any questions, please comment below and I will get back to you.
