DanckTravel

New York City has long been a huge travel destination with its incredible shows and architecture. Check out our article to learn more about what you should explore while here.

Getting to NYC

There are several ways to get to New York City, depending on where you are coming from. 

Airport

NYC has three airports, close by, which include 

• Newark: Newark is my favorite airport since it’s smaller and much quicker than JFK. Terminal A and C are nice, but be sure to bring snacks and food with you if you go to terminal B (There aren’t many options)

• Laguirdia: Laguarida has a beautiful new terminal for Delta. To use public transportation, you’ll have to the subway to a bus stop that can take you to Laguidia. 

• JFK: If you go to JFK, you’ll be landing in Queens. From the airport, you can either Uber or take the train.  The AirTrain is free between terminals, but not free when you exit the airport and enter Jamaica station. Purchase a metro card from the stand before exiting (and make sure to have enough for the rest of your journey!). From Jamaica, you’ll either need to take the subway (which is cheaper) or the Long Island Railroad, which will get you directly into Penn Station. If you take LIRR, you’ll need to watch out for peak and non-peak hours, as this will affect the ticket you need to book.

Rates can drastically differ between the three, so be sure to check which one makes the most sense to book.

Train

Many trains come directly into Penn or Grand Central Station. Both stations have additional subways that make it easy to reach your final destination.

Driving

Driving in New York City isn’t for the faint of heart. If you choose to drive, be sure that your Airbnb or hotel has a parking spot (for example: The Holiday Inn in Jersey City does) or use Spothero to get discounted rates. Since parking is difficult to do in the city, I recommend only taking the car if you have to.

Places to Go

Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island

1. Statue of Liberty

There are two ways to get to the Statue of Liberty, either via the Jersey or NYC side. 

If you go through New Jersey, you will enter via Liberty Park which is a beautiful, gigantic park. The park itself is worth exploring prior to getting on the ferry. Most of the immigrants passing through Ellis Island entered here before going to their final destination. From here, you will go to Ellis Island first, followed by the Statue of Liberty. This route is better if you’re going during high season in the summer since it will be less crowded than the New York City route.

If you go through NYC, you will head through Battery Park. 

To get to the top of the Statue of Liberty, you will need a pass. The crown sells out very quickly (due to limited capacity), but the pedestal often will have tickets left over. Your ticket is not the entrance time, but the time for your ferry. You will be allowed to enter once you get there (for example: you can enjoy Ellis Island before going to the statue).

One of the paths in Liberty Park in NJ

The Statue of Liberty

Midtown

2. Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. You can go to the top (but if you have to choose, we recommend checking out the Edge).

3. Times Square

Times Square is a bit of a tourist trap, but worth seeing if you’ve never been. It’s bright (day or night) and filled with billboards. There’s a Hershey’s store here if you like chocolate.

4. Bryant Park

Bryant Park is a wonderful treat at Christmas time. There are numerous shops to check out Be sure to go to one of my personal favorites: Max Brenner. It’s a chocolate shop and everything there is delicious 

The drinks are expensive, but the mulled wine is very delicious. There is also ice skating at this park. While parts of the market will close after Christmas, many if the stalls will stay open well past the New Year

5. Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is best known for its Christmas tree. If you get the chance to go during Christmas, we suggest taking a photo with the tree and ice skating.

8. NBC Studios

NBC Studios is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. You can take a tour of the studios and gain some history into this location. In addition, they do show the room where SNL is filmed (which is pretty cool).

9. Central Park

Central Park is located in Manhattan and stretches across 843 acres. This is the perfect place to go for a walk, a run, or take a carriage ride. There’s a lot to discover on its paths and it’s a popular destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. 

Financial District

10. September 11th Memorial

This is a beautiful memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives on September 11th. Names of those who passed away can be seen through the memorial. The holes in the ground are from what was left behind after the towers fell. I recommend going at night since they light it up.

11. The Met

The Met is a fantastic art museum, with famous pieces such as Washington Crossing the Delaware and the Death of Socrates. It’s huge, so you may want to make sure you set aside some extra time to see it.

12. Broadway Shows

Don’t forget to schedule some time to see a Broadway Show while in NYC. If you’re there for longer, look into weekday tickets (these tend to be cheaper). The Lion King and Wicked are both amazing, if you’re looking to see one of the classics.

13. Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island ferry is a free way to get some iconic views of the city. The ferry is also free, so it’s the best way to get these views. 

14. The Cauldron

If you’re a Harry Potter fab, this is a really cool experience. You’ll work together with friends and use magic to create “potions” (or drinks. If you don’t drink, non-alcoholic versions are available)

Chelsea

15. The Highline

The Highline is a walking path/ park above the city. It’s definitely worth seeing and is a really nice walk with some very beautiful views. 

16. Chelsea Markets

Chelsea Markets has a lot to offer and is a great place to get lunch. They also have stores with various types of spices and teas.

17. The Starbucks Reserve

There are only a few of these in the world and they are very fancy. There’s a bar and a full restaurant in here. Many of the details are covered in gold plating. It’s worth checking out if you’re a Starbucks fan or in the area.

18. Little Island

Little Island is a floating “island” on the Hudson River. It has beautiful flowers and views of New York City. This is a great place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of New York. 

Brooklyn

19. Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open year-round, but is perhaps best known for its cherry blossoms. These appear in early spring. 

20. Brooklyn Bridge

If you’re already in Manhatten, you can easily find the entrance to the bridge across from City Hall Park. This is close to the Financial District. It’s about one mile of walking when going from one end of the bridge to the other.

21. Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a very famous region of Brooklyn, filled with a cool nightlife, music, and restaurants.

Queens

22. Long Island City

Long Island City is a really cool part of Queens. We recommend going to the Waterfront and checking out the views of the rest of the city.

Jersey City and Hoboken

23. The Waterfront

Head to the Hoboken/ Jersey City waterfront. The sunset is especially pretty. The waterfront path is long, so I recommend scheduling a walk, run or bike ride here. 

24. Free Kayaking

In the summer, Hoboken has free kayaking. You can’t go very far out, but you do get to enjoy some beautiful views of the city.

25. Annual Pizza Crawl

If you love pizza, check out Hoboken’s annual pizza crawl. You get a passport and participating restaurants will “stamp” your passport once you get a slice from their restaurant. This usually takes place in October.

Pro-Tip: Bring Tupperware. It’s a lot of pizza.

Roosevelt Island

26. The Gonadala

The coolest part of Roosevelt Island is the gondola you can take to get there. The ride is part of the MTA, so it’s the same as a subway ticket.

27. The Lighthouse

Since Roosevelt Island isn’t very big, it’s very easy to walk from one end to another. On one end is a hospital that used to treat small pox patients and on the other end is a lighthouse. This is a beautiful day trip.

Local Events

28. The New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon is a huge event and it is so much fun to cheer for runners. The race does cover most of the city, so if you are traveling during this, be sure to check for road closures.

29. Check out Other Local Events

The NYC Bucket Listers always show cool things going around the city.

Going out to Eat

30. Antique Bar

Antique Bar is one of my favorite places. They change the menu seasonally and always have something new and delicious to try.

31. Her Name is Han

My friend recommended Her Name is Han to me and the foodis absolutely delicious. Most of the food is tapas style. We recommend the black bean tofu.

32. Rooftop at Exchange Place

If you’re looking for views of the city, check out this bar. They have a beautiful rooftop bar, with a small selection of food. The views are incredible, since they’re unobstructed (only the the Hudson River stands between you and the views of New York City). This bar is located in Jersey City. It’s easy to reach via the Path (Get on at World Trade Center and get off at Exchange Place).

33. Places for Dessert

Don’t forget desert! Below are some of my favorite cookie places:

• Gooey on the Inside
• Seven Grahams
• Levain
• Funny Face

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why New York City is a favorite East Coast vacation spot. Anywhere you’d recommend adding to this list? Leave a comment below!