New York

New York City

New York is impossible to “see” in one visit. This city is home to thousands of restaurants, hundreds of museums, attractions, plays, and quirky things to do. You just have to resign yourself to that fact that you’re only going to see a fraction of what you hope to see. It takes a while to get around town so prepare for long days and lots of miles and a ton of steps!

This article will give you tips for planning your trip to NYC with our top places to stay, eat and play — plus our favorites!

**please take into consideration COVID restrictions, date and time changes and possible closures. NYC is changing daily and I’m not local to see it all happen!

A few of our favorite tips

Top of the Rock NYC Observation Deck — 30 Rockefeller Plaza

One World Trade Center

9-11 Memorial and Museum

Hudson Yards and The Vessel

Union Square Greenmarket & Chelsea Market

Walk the streets of Little Italy & SOHO & Chinatown!

Rent a Citi Bike and explore the city (or at least the Hudson River Greenway)

Broadway Musical! We are partial to Hamilton and have seen it 3 times in NYC ❤️ but there are so many options!

Central Park:

Bethesda Terrace
Ice skating in the winter
Central Park zoo

Time Square

M&M’s World Time Square, Herseys Chocolate Store, Krispy Kreme

Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Stroll through Canal Street 👜 (fake)

Flat iron building – 175 5th Ave, 10010

Statue of Liberty 🗽

Where We Stay

Soho Grand Hotel – a fav!

Moxy Time Square

Moxy NYC Chelsea

Ritz Carlton Central Park

Renaissance New York Midtown

Renaissance New York Chelsea

The Times Square EDITION

Eats & treats

TAO Downtown – 92 9th Ave

Brunch at Magic Hour — A Must Do!

Beauty & Essex

Balvanera – Lower East Side — 152 Stanton St

Katz Delicatessen — 205 E Houston St

Economy Candy — Lower East Side, 108 Rivington St

Boulton & Watt – Lower East Side, 5 Avenue A

Goodnight Sonny — 134 1st Ave.

Gilligan’s – Soho — 310 W Broadway

Brunch at 230 Fifth or Dinner and drinks in the winter with igloos outside — gorgeous skyline views

Milk and Cereal Bar – 159 Mott St

Flour Shop- 177 LAFAYETTE Street, colorful cakes and desserts

Tiny’s and The Bar Upstairs

Museums

Museum of Ice Cream

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

Sloomoo Institute

Museum of Illusions

The color factory NYC

MoMath Museum

NYC gifts

Personalized M&Ms & Hersey Bar

NY Yankees Jersey with name embroidered

Iconic I love NYC shirts, hats, mugs

Rangers Hockey Gear

Lululemon flagship store on 5th Ave — custom with NYC print

Fake designer purse — Canal Street

Pandora NYC Charms!

The Strand Bookstore — some of the best NYC souvenirs here

Holiday Markets

NYC Homesick Candle

Levain Bakery (considered the best cookies in the world)

ONE PERFECT DAY IN BROOKLYN

10:00 AM: Brooklyn Bridge – start the day and walk over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, one of the best FREE things to do while in NYC

10:30 AM: DUMBO “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass” – prime photo

11:00 AM: Brooklyn Bridge Park & Pebble Beach – one of the best views you canget of the Manhattan skyline and Brookline Bridge; Jane’s Carousel

12:00 PM: Lunch at Cecconi’s Dumbo Restaurant; Alternate: Lunch at Juliana’s Pizzeria; Dessert: The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

1:30 PM: East River Ferry from DUMBO to North Williamsburg Ferry Port and

visit East River Park for amazing skyline views! ⛴ @nycferry

2:45 PM: Williamsburg – depending on your style you can explore #streetart #botiqueshops #brooklynrestaurants – on foot or on a bike!

4:00 PM: Brooklyn Brewery

6:00 PM Brooklyn Bowl – be sure to check current hours of operation, they vary throughout the week

7:30 PM Ferry back to Manhattan and enjoy the sunset!

I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan total immersion in an otherworldly perspective of the fast-paced chaos of New York City! A Must-Do! So many great photo ops for all you instagram fanatics

CHELSEA MARKET

gluten-free food galore

so.much.history – take your time

shopping shopping & shopping

photo ops

water fountain

abundance of art everywhere!

WHO KNEW THE CONCRETE JUNGLE WAS FULL OF SO MUCH GREENERY?

It’s true! The 4.5 mile Hudson River Park if full of playgrounds, dog parks, renovated piers, greenery filled parks, designated bike lanes, restaurants and bars! The greenway is the perfect place to walk, run, bike and play while overlooking the Hudson!!

MY FAVORITE PLACES ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER GREENWAY!

The Vessel & Hudson Yards

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

Pier 57 Rooftop Park

Little Island (my fav!)

Pier 25 (playground, mini golf, volleyball)

Pier 66 Maritime: Home of Frying Pan

Spectacular 91st Street Garden – The beautiful setting was also used for the lastscene in the film “You’ve Got Mail,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Gorgeous views of Downtown & One World Observatory

Riverside Park

10 THINGS I TAUGHT MY DAUGHTER BEFORE WE WENT BIKING IN NYC

Always be aware of the vehicles around you, and be ready for a change.
On two way streets, keep to the right; On one way streets, keep to the left.
Ride with the direction of traffic. Always.
Keep an eye out for potholes, grates, and glass in your path.
Slow and steady: it’s not a race.
Always assume drivers haven’t seen you.
Communicate with your hand signals, voice and your bell.
When you’re coming to a stop, end with one pedal up and slightly forward so you’re ready to push off again.
Stay out of the door zone; try to give all parked cars four feet of space.
NYC is flooded with food runners on e-bikes; they are fast and on a mission so get out of their way! They will pass you, and will usually do so on the left. (If they are following proper bike etiquette, they’ll warn you, but don’t count on it)

**We were hesitant to rent bikes and explore a city with over 20 million people, but with proper knowledge we conquered our fear and had the best day ever!