Welcome to the city that never sleeps… some call it the Big Apple, we call it one of your must see bucket list holidays.
In the Good Things Guy “travel guide series” we showcase all the amazing things that you could possibly fit into an action packed holiday out of town… or if you’re a local, we’ll maybe give you a new perspective to your own city.
It’s tried and tested as the team plan the actual route way in advance with a fully loaded, jam-packed itinerary that we try our absolute hardest to stick too and then we try even harder to fit even more in… you know, to give you the best idea of what a city has to offer.
So… thanks to Virgin Atlantic, Travel.co.za and Marriott Hotels – we spent a week in the Big Apple and have compiled a list of our absolute favourites from the city (as well as top tips to get the best out of your experience).
Added to the list below, always remember these tips when traveling abroad:
Make plans for every day of your trip while at home. The latest time to plan is at night before the next day. Do not go to bed if you do not know your plan for tomorrow (what activities you will be visiting and in what order, the means of transportations for the whole day, and the clothes appropriate for the weather.
Buy a Pass if you are a tireless walker and your main goal is to see as many paid tourist attractions as possible and you are willing and capable to do it from early morning till late at night.
Make a reservation only if it is absolutely necessary, otherwise you will be under pressure, will not be able to make other plans or be limited in what you can do, and you may end up paying more unnecessarily.
Times Square
Flashing neon lights and giant digital billboards. Brilliant Broadway marquees. Costumed characters and musicians. Times Square is big, bright and unforgettable. Its main junction is filled with popular retailers—plus the TKTS discount booth, which offers up to 50 percent off theater tickets.
Walk to the top of its red steps—you may know them from the “Empire State of Mind” video—for a sweeping view of the area, including One Times Square, the building from which the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. People-watchers will love the pedestrian-only zones furnished with tables and chairs.
Top Tip: Visit Time Square after dinner, the lights will be brightest and the intersection busiest, It’s the best time to get the best photos.
Central Park
Central Park is full of attractions, from green meadows to sprawling waters, gardens and unique bridges, music and performance centers, educational facilities, classical architecture and more. Its picturesque beauty boasts natural green landscapes and vistas as far as the eye can see.
Whether you choose to search out specific attractions or wander the paths to escape the surrounding bustle of the city, each season and visit offers something new in Central Park. Some popular historical attractions include Belvedere Castle with its panoramic views, The Blockhouse, a remaining fort from the War of 1812, numerous statues of iconic figures including William Shakespeare, Balto, Alice in Wonderland, and the oldest public monument in North America, The Obelisk.
Top Tip: Get your jogging shoes ready and join the track on a Saturday or Sunday morning… it’s less “touristy” but super festive and you’ll see more of the park than just walking around. You can also stop whenever you like and take the BEST photos.
Also… skip the expensive restaurants and rather grab a bite from the nearest food truck. It’s delicious, authentic and you can take in the views while you eat.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is more than a monument. She is a beloved friend, a living symbol of freedom to millions around the world. These exhibits are a tribute to the people who created her, to those who built and paid for her, to the ideals she represents, and to the hopes she inspires.
The Statue of Liberty exhibit, which opened in July 1986 and is located on the second floor in the pedestal of the Statue, traces the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty through museum objects, photographs, prints, videos and oral histories. In addition to historical artifacts and descriptive text, full scale replicas of the Statue’s face and foot are also on display.
You can visit Battery Park to take photos from a distance inland of the Statue or you can catch a ferry to the island to see her up close.
Top Tip: If you just want to see the Statue and save time and money on the trip, then hop on the free Staten Island Ferry which takes you right to the Statue. You also get a great perspective of lower Manhatten from the ferry. They leave about every 30 minutes, take about 25 minutes for the crossing and you disembark the other end and get back on the next return ferry.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th Streets in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
Find yourself in the center of it all, above it all, when you visit the Empire State Building’s open-air 86th Floor Observation Deck. As the most famous observatory in the world, the 86th Floor has been the setting of dozens of movie and television scenes, as well as tens of millions of unforgettable personal moments.
The Observation Deck wraps around the building’s spire, providing 360-degree views of New York and beyond. From up here you’ll get one-of-a-kind views of Central Park, The Hudson River and East River, The Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty, and much more. Our official Observatory Experience app teaches you about your view from every direction. Then take advantage of our high-powered binoculars to get a closer look.
Top Tip: Visit the Top of the Rock (as sunset) to get some of the most amazing views of the city and spectacular views of the Empire State Building. The three 360-degree-view observation decks at Top of the Rock showcase the City’s spectacular skyline.
Brooklyn Bridge
Stretching across the East River, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge opened up back in 1883 to carry traffic (nonautomotive at the time) between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. One of the most recognizable parts of the New York City skyline, the bridge has been featured in movies and on television shows, and is a real piece of New York City history.
A stroll across the elevated pedestrian walkway provides a true New York City experience. The Manhattan-side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park, east of City Hall; over on the Brooklyn side, enter at Cadman Plaza East or where Boerum Place meets Tillary Street.
Top Tip: Wake up early and get there at sunrise. The bridge will be completely quiet and you will get the best sunrise photos.
High Line
The High Line (also known as High Line Park) is a 2.33 km elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail. It was created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. Led by landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, the abandoned railway has been redesigned as a “living system” that draws from multiple disciplines including landscape architecture, urban design, and ecology.
Since opening in 2009, the High Line has become an icon in contemporary landscape architecture. There is no other place where one can hover just above street level all the way from the Meatpacking District to the Convention Center. It has an amazing variety of exotic plant life. It can get very crowded midday but the lighting is really beautiful after dark so thats really the best time to visit.
Top Tip: Take a break midpoint and enjoying a few of the very cool art galleries in West Chelsea or visit some of the eclectic restaurants along the way such as Tia Pol (tapas) on 10th Ave between 22nd and 23rd and the Chop Shop between 24th and 25th (Asian Fusion).
9 11 Memorial
A tribute of remembrance and honour. Occupying eight of the 16 acres at the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum are tributes to the past and a place of hope for the future.
The World Trade Center anchors New York’s hottest “new” neighborhood. World-class shopping, dining, hotels, attractions & recreational options combine with unmatched accessibility to create the City’s #1 destination. There are several options for guided tours, and some include admission to the National September 11th Museum and One World Observatory as well.
Top Tip: Plan at least 2 hours for the museum and it will be well worth it. Carry your own headphones and download the app to hear a great narration as you walk through at your own pace.
NBC studio Tour
Experience the most famous studio tour in TV history. You’ll get to enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the studios where the worlds favourite shows are made. Like Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and more.
An NBC Page will serve as the host and behind-the-scenes expert, guiding the tour through the historic halls of 30 Rock. You’ll learn about the entire TV production process, from scriptwriting and producing to the ways TV content reaches your home.
Remember to reserve the NBC studio tour as soon as you arrive in the city for day you wish to visit it. It may require to call the ticket desk the first thing in the morning.
Top Tip: Book your tickets for around 11am, and visit the store 30 minutes before. While you shop, look out for interns (usually with clipboards)… they will be offering free pre-screenings to shows and tickets for “filler audiences”. Who knows, you may even land up in seeing Jimmy Fallon live!
Broadway
Broadway is the bright beating heart of the NYC’s performing arts scene. No visit to the City is complete without experiencing the rousing entertainment available in Midtown Manhattan’s Theatre District, where dozens of historic venues stage bold new musicals, long-running hits and fascinating dramas every night of the week.
My favourites: Wicked, Book of Mormon and Lion King (Hamilton is next on my list of shows to see).
Top Tip: Visit the TKTS stand in Times Square late afternoon to pick up last minute show tickets at massive discounts. There are always good seats at great prices available.
Museums and Galleries
New York City’s museums and galleries are some of the City’s most powerful draws. Destinations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Whitney Museum of American Art house immense collections and put on spectacular exhibitions.
Couple these with the wide array of galleries around town, and a trip to NYC becomes a visually stunning experience.
For the full New York experience, be sure to include the American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim on your travel itinerary
Top Tip: The best time to see the most NYC attractions is Tuesday – Saturday. On weekends museums start late and may not be open long. On Mondays and Sundays they may be closed or do not have tours.
Looking to visit New York City too! Click here to book a trip like this… at a really good price.
Sources: Brent Lindeque | NYCGO
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