If you’ve been to New York City – or are looking for ideas on things to see and do on a future trip, we’ve got you covered.
First off, make sure you’re familiar with the seasons and don’t mind being flexible with changing weather patterns. There’s so much to discover outdoors, but if the weather outlook declines, you can duck into numerous museums, shops, movies and theatres, plus a nearly-overwhelming abundance of cafés, bars, and restaurants.
I made plans to arrive in Manhattan a few days ahead of a travel writer’s conference, and organized my days wisely, taking weather and jet lag into account.
The CityPASS is an ideal way to pick from the best attractions and museum that New York has to offer, and pay a set fee for the amount of places that appeal to you.
I chose the C3 pass that allowed me ample time to visit three attractions in between browsing shops, dining, and impromptu photo stops.
[The stunning Sherry-Netherland Hotel ceiling]
If you’re an architecture fan, this city will spoil you at nearly every turn. Stunning apartment buildings, offices, and hotels alike are worth popping into, as I discovered in and around Fifth Avenue, when I saw a beautiful interior through the front door at the Sherry-Netherland Hotel.
[Upper East Side apartment building door]
Taking in a Broadway show is a real treat while in the Big Apple. Some of the long-standing theatre houses boast incredibly beautiful interiors, such as the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where I spent a Sunday afternoon enjoying Hamilton, one Broadway’s longest-running productions in recent years – and for good reason!
The show is not only top-notch thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s incredible talent as lyricist, musician, and author, but its lighting, stage and set design, costumes and numbers are captivating, and as was evidenced, enjoyed by theatre patrons young and old.
There are a number of ways to purchase tickets, either via each theatre’s website, The Broadway Collection, or at 1/2 price, day-of outlets.
Before the show, it’s easy to walk down between Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery on West 45th and Richard Rodgers on West 46th, serviced by a restaurant/alley halfway down the block connecting the two. Grab a seat at the counter to save time, or join the waiting list to get a table. Either way, they serve classic deli eats, burgers, and their famous cheesecake.
[Those famous Black and White cookies, also sold at Junior’s Deli]
I picked up my ticket with just over an hour to spare before curtain time. Even on a busy Sunday, I got my meal in time for the show. Their staff is used to high volume traffic. As my waitress confirmed, “we do this every day”, when I asked if my order would be ready in time for the matinee.
Not enough time to visit the Statue of Liberty? At 667 Madison Avenue, about a five-minute walk from Central Park, you’ll find a 1/16 scale exact replica of Liberty! I stumbled onto her one evening on the way to dinner. The bronze sculpture uses the original plaster from which the statue on Ellis Island was scaled.
If you’re headed on travels and are in need of an eSIM card to stay connected, I’ve grab a free 1GB GLOBAL eSIM card courtesy of my friends at Eskimo Travel. Simply head over to their website, register your email address, download the free app for iOS or Android, and select a 1GB eSIM using our VANCOUVERSCAPE1 code at check-out.
What’s your favourite aspect of The Big Apple? Feel free to comment below.
This post contains an affiliate link which may provide a small commission for eSIM top-ups to a free 1GB eSIM card. I used the hassle-free Eskimo Global eSIM card on my New York City trip without any issues.