2024 Best Sights Around New York City
Central Park - New York, NY
Intro
The Empire City. The Big Apple. Gotham. Concrete Jungle. Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, among others, have all sang about New York City. The city that needs no introduction by the likes of me. One of the millions of people who have called the NYC area home at one point or another. Washington, D.C. maybe the capital of the US, but to the world, NYC is the heart of the country. A city that you could visit a million times and still see everything in this 13.4 mile island.
Below I am going to regale you of my tales from the city. Best times to travel here. Tips for packing efficiently. Cost saying tricks. And the best sights to see in the city that never sleeps!
Rockefeller Center - New York, NY
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Where to begin on a blog post about New York City. I was born and raised in a tiny town in Northern New Jersey, just about 20 miles outside of New York City. My parents were from Long Island and moved to New Jersey in the 1970's because it was cheaper to rent an apartment close enough to commute into NYC (definitely not the case now). They eventually left their Manhattan jobs and started a family, so moved a little into the suburbs of New Jersey for more space and a house. They moved into my childhood home when I was just 2 years old, located in Bergen County, NJ. They would spend the next 30 years in this house until retirement and because of this decision, I unknowingly had the best of both worlds. A tiny town upbringing that was just a mere 20 miles from the most iconic city in the United States (maybe even the world).
My parents started taking my brother and I into the city from a very young age. There are pictures of me in a stroller being pushed down Times Square, like that was an easy thing to do for my five-foot mother. It's funny how people respond differently to the same scenario. Because of this experience, I fell in love with New York, while my brother disliked the intensity and congestion of the city. I want to interject a side note at this point. I just reference New York City just as the city. I've heard many people say this before and have read many books that say people from the NYC area reference it as just 'the City' like it's the only one in existence and I would be lying if I said, that's not how we truly feel. To be fair, I have been to my fair share of cities in my life and I still think it's one of the best around. At the very least, it has the most diverse cuisine as well as variety of entertainment and activities for nearly anyone to enjoy.
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I could go on forever with NYC historical and fun facts but you can ride a Hop On/Hop Off bus. But I will place a few old school historical facts below on the foundation of New York City.
NYC was first written about in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano.
The Dutch first settled in the region by 1608 and NYC was referenced as New Amsterdam.
Thomas Willett was the first Mayor in NYC, appointed by Governor RIchard Nicholls in 1665.
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Packing for a trip to NYC can be tricky depending on what time of year it is, where you are coming from, what you are doing, and so on. What you will pack for a trip to New York City in June, will be applicable from the end of May through the end of September. Those shoulder months are hit or miss with hot and cold days. January by far is the coldest month. The best way to get started is to think about what season are you in. Fall and Spring are typically delightful in NYC and one of the best times to visit in my opinion. Not too hot and not too cold. Pants and a long sleeved shirt, maybe a sweater or light jacket to go over, would suffice. It's the winter and summer months that can be tricky because it is during some of the hottest months and coldest months around. There is no dress code in the city per say, but most New Yorkers definitely have a style which is trendy with neutral tones / darker colors (classic black, grey, white, tan, and brown). I didn't start wearing bright colors until I moved to Florida.
Keep in mind while Spring and Fall are delightful to be in NYC for, that is how everyone else in the world feels so this will be the most expensive time to travel to NYC (airfare and hotels). Summer is also a busy season and expensive. This all means that January to March tend to be the cheapest and the coldest months to travel to New York. With that said, even though it gets cold in the city, snow rarely sticks there as the ground is usually too warm with the subway, tons of cars and pedestrians. So if you are going to NYC in the winter, layer up with warm clothes and jackets as well as warm, comfortable, and waterproof shoes. Summer months you want to plan for clothing you will be comfortable walking in hot and humid weather. And always, always, always have comfortable walking shoes.
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There is literally a hotel a stones throw from where ever you are standing in Manhattan, so you have your pick of hotel chains, luxury properties, economy travel, or boutiques. Regardless of your hotel chain affiliation you will find a multitude of the below brands in and around NYC.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral - New York, NY
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Parks
Bryant Park
Central Park
Tribeca Park
Greeley Park
Union Square
The High Line
Riverside Park
Gramercy Park
Morningside Park
Hudson River Park
Madison Square Park
Washington Square Park
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Broadway Theaters
Most parents wouldn't even think of taking their young child into a movie theater or a place requiring said child to sit in silence because there is a probability the child would not in fact be silent or sit still. My parents took me to my first Broadway play at the age of 6. This was also the 1990's without the variety of child-friendly shows of today like Shrek, Aladdin, the Lion King, and so on. Our options at that time were Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof or 42nd Street. My first Broadway show was The Who's Tommy, which pretty much included every taboo topic. When I wound up seeing the movie in my 20s, I asked my mom why she would take a child to see that, let alone two children. Her reply was, oh you didn't know what was going on and the Who's music is amazing!
While Tommy wasn't the greatest first show for a 6 year old, it did spark my immense love of musical theater and New York City. When I got a little older, most birthday's my parents would let me pick our a Broadway show to see and we would go in to have dinner and see the show. I would watch the Tony awards very intensely to make sure I was making the right decision for the following birthday. I still remember seeing Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking perform a number from Chicago. Alan Cumming perform Welkom from Cabaret. Kirstin Chenowith perform a scene from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. And the original cast perform Seasons of Love from Rent. So between elementary school and college, I got to see such musicals as Chicago, 42nd Street, Cabaret, Rent, Cats, Gypsy, Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Mamma Mia. Broadway is such a big part of the culture and entertainment in New York, but it is far from the only thing. Manhattan also has a plethora of museums and art galleries, which I will go into in this post but there are so many historic theaters in NYC that have housed some of the greatest shows.
Hayes Theater
O'Neill Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Marquis Theatre
Studio 54 Theatre
Gershwin Theatre
St. James Theatre
Sondheim Theatre
Hirschfeld Theatre
Barrymore Theatre
Neil Simon Theatre
Ambassador Theatre
August Wilson Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Iconic Buildings/Landmarks
Macy's
The Plaza
Ellis Island
The Dakota
Hearst Tower
Carnegie Hall
Hudson Yards
Metlife Building
Brooklyn Bridge
Flatiron Building
Statue of Liberty
Rockefeller Plaza
Chrysler Building
New York City Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Empire State Building
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Grand Central Terminal
Madison Square Garden
The New York Public Library
Marriott Marquis (Top of the Rock)
Staten Island Ferry (for views of Downtown NYC)
One World Trade Center (formerly World Trade Center)
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SoHo
Tribeca
Chelsea
Kips Bay
Turtle Bay
East Village
West Village
Columbus Circle
Greenwich Village
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Sightseeing
When wandering around the city streets or popping up from most any subway station, your bound to stumble upon the best shopping, great food, or just a good time. If nature is your thing, Central Park is the cities mecca. Be sure when spending a lot of time outside, especially in the summer months, to bring a water bottle. A true New Yorker knows they are a long way from home and the easiest way to get by is by having the essentials on them, because going back is rarely an option. That is one of the best things about the city. You are out most of the day and you never know where that will lead. It could lead you by the Empire State Building, the lit Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center during the holiday season, making new friends at rooftop bars during warm temperatures, or just strolling down the streets in the greatest city. Whether it's your first visit to the Big Apple or your millionth, there's always plenty of ways to spend your days.
Museums
The Met
New Museum
The Guggenheim
The Neue Galerie
Queens Museum
Brooklyn Museum
Tenement Museum
The Frick Collection
The Jewish Museum
Museum of Modern Art
9/11 Memorial & Museum
New York Hall of Science
Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space
New York Transit Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Museum of Chinese in America
The Jewish Children’s Museum
Children's Museum of Manhattan
Whitney Museum of American Art
American Museum of Natural History
Music/Festivals
Tomi Jazz Bar
Apollo Theater
Beacon Theater
Barclay's Center
Gay Pride Parade
Forest Hills Stadium
Tribeca Film Festival
Radio City Music Hall
Museum Mile Festival
New York Street Festival
Madison Square Garden
Summer Concert Series (Today Show)
Sports
One World Trade - New York, NY
Metlife Building - New York, NY
Conclusion
New York City might be the concrete jungle but it is also the haven for diversity, culture, cuisine, history, and the arts. Many people find this city overwhelming, which it can be, but it can also be so very magical. A place where the elite and the working class collide, enjoying the same offerings and experiences.
What is great about New York City is, there is no wrong season to go visit. Spring and Fall are gorgeous weather. The summer months come alive in the city with fairs, markets, rooftop bars, and such. The winter is a major draw for the city being lit up for the holiday's. The light show projected on the outside of the Saks Fifth Avenue building. The Christmas Tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center. Masses at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The pop up holiday market and ice skating in Bryant Park. The Radio City Rockettes or the Nutcracker shows. Running the Santa Suit 5k. There is no shortage of things to do even in the colder months. I will tell you, after being in the travel industry for many years in NYC, the cheapest time to travel to New York would be January to February. With that said, be prepared to bundle up and possibly be walking through sludge. Which is New York's version of snow that has turned yellow and black.
I could go on for hours and hours, pages and pages, on how much I love visiting New York City. There is no shortage of things to do, no matter who is visiting. The above guide just scrapes the surface of things to do in New York as it is ever changing. From the restaurants, museums, shows, and pop-up exhibits. I have been visiting Manhattan for more years than I care to mention and I still have not seen all the city has to offer.
My parting words for those fearful of trying to keep up with the trends and fashion of New York City, just make sure you have a variety of comfortable clothes and footwear, along with clothing to go out in, layers, and possible rain attire. When your feet are not in pain and frozen, you will be thankful for that.
Quote
“My hometown New York also has a big heart. It doesn’t like to see itself in that way, but we do come together when need be…” Anthony Bourdain
Next on the Blog…
If your interested in visiting other states in the northeast region, rich with culture and history, check out my blog post on the Best Sights in and Around Washington, D.C. as well as 27 Ways for the Best Time in Rhode Island. This maybe not a popular opinion, but I would argue that D.C. is second to NYC in museums and theater. Though Manhattan by far triumphs with cuisine though.
Statue of Liberty - New York, NY