New York City. I freaking love it. I grew up watching Friends and Sex and the City and had an obsession with NYC. It’s kind of amazing that I never visited until I was in my mid-20s. I had a chance to go when I was 14 but chose a trip to Australia instead. Out of all of the places I have visited, New York is one of my top favorites.
Growing up I always imagined moving to Manhattan when I was 18, living a glamorous city life, going to college there, living the big city life. Well then came real life and that dream never happened.
I have been fortunate to visit New York several times now, and I absolutely LOVE IT! It’s even better than I imagined! Now that I know myself a little better, I know that I would probably not be happy living in a crowded place, and the cost of living is insane.
If I won a huge lottery I may change my mind. A penthouse apartment with a view sounds pretty nice! I could see myself living in other parts of New York, it is absolutely beautiful. For now, I will stick with frequent trips to NYC and live vicariously through Carrie Bradshaw.
I have been to NYC several times, and I always have this craving to go back. In general I don’t love crowds and traffic but there is something special about New York. I’m sure you have heard that before. Until you experience it, you just can’t fully understand.
Why NYC?
What do I love about New York City? Where do I even start?! I love the food, the natural beauty, the water, the tall buildings, the millions of little unique characteristics. I have found that most of the locals are incredibly nice! I love that I can get a cheap, delicious slice of pizza any time of night. I love the parks. There is just so much to see and do, and so much history! I cannot wait to take my son there and have him experience it!
Transportation
There are many modes of transportation. I have no desire to drive a car in Manhattan (other parts of New York are fine!) I have used the subway, Uber and taxis. There are also hop on/hop off double decker buses that look super fun! I have friends and family members who have used them and loved the experience! I have never had a problem finding transportation around NYC, but walking around is an amazing experience.
My favorite way to get around in NYC is the water taxi! You can hop on and hop off at several locations and it is beautiful! One time we saw a movie being filmed on the Hudson River and cruised by super close. The views are amazing and the guides are helpful, friendly and entertaining. You get super close to the Statue of Liberty. You can hop off in Brooklyn for some incredible pizza! Check out Grimaldi’s and Ignazio’s for some delicious, authentic pizza!
Food
I love the delicatessens-Carnegie and Katz’s are phenomenal (also, both delicatessens now ship their products nationwide, and Carnegie has a Las Vegas location!) You will not catch me eating a Reuben or pastrami sandwich anywhere but one of these locations! Katz’s deli has house made pickles that are delicious-pickles are one of my top most hated foods-but these are special! You will pay over $20 for a sandwich but trust me, it’s worth it, and they are big enough to share!
@ Katz’s Deli, New York City
My favorite place to go after a show is Sardi’s. They have fantastic cocktails and desserts. There is a ton of history and many sightings of famous people, if that is your thing!
If you are in to beer, my favorite spots are McSorley’s and Heartland Brewery. McSorley’s-talk about some serious history-was opened in 1854. When you order a beer, you actually get 2! So you can see what accidentally happened here:
Heartland Brewery has delicious beer and food, and the atmosphere is really nice. My mom, who HATES all beer, loved every single beer we tasted.
Accomodations
I love visiting unique hotels, and the New Yorker is a great, affordable place to stay. My favorite website and app to book hotels on is booking.com as I love all of the options and the ability to book rooms with free cancellations, in case I decide to change hotels or room types. If you sign up for booking.com using my link and book and complete a stay, you will get $25! Another tip for saving money on travel is to use ebates! If you aren’t already using ebates, you NEED TO BE! It’s free money! Sign up for ebates here.
My favorite NYC trip was when we got an AirBNB and lived like locals in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood! It was such a cool experience and I cannot wait to go back and live like a local again. Where I live in Oregon, everything is basic, cookie cutter houses, no character. The East Coast does not disappoint with character and history!
One of my absolute favorite places to stay close to New York City is The Mansion at Glen Cove . It is located on the Long Island Gold Coast and it is a breathtaking estate. There is so much history, it is beautiful, has amazing food and hospitality. They put on beautiful events and there is so much to explore. It is quiet and there are tons of activities for all ages. We took the subway from Manhattan to Long Island, grabbed an Uber, and were there in less than 30 minutes.
Stuff To Do
Central Park-what a cool place! There are beautiful fountains, boats to rent, beautiful walking paths, rocks to climb on, vendor booths, big grassy areas to lay out and enjoy the greenery and the sun, places to play sports or let your littles run around, horses drawn carriages, ponds to relax by, wildlife, a zoo…there is so much to explore! Every time I visit Central Park I discover new places and I haven’t even seen half of it!
In my opinion, Top of the Rock provides the BEST view of Manhattan. To get those jaw dropping shots you cannot wait to post on your Instagram, you must visit Top of the Rock! It is worth the cost and kids under 6 are FREE!
I always check out a Broadway Show when I am in NYC. Some of my favorites have been Wicked, Jersey Boys and Rock of Ages. A great way to get discounted Broadway tickets is to get same day tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square. I do not recommend buying tickets from people on the streets or from unknown third party websites.
The next time I am in NYC, I am determined to see Book of Mormon and Kinky Boots! There are many good options for kids, including Wicked and the Lion King! If Mamma Mia is ever back on Broadway, that is a must see for me as well! There are so many amazing shows and they are changing constantly. I have never been disappointed in a show in NYC!
I always recommend checking out sites like Groupon to get deals on attractions. I also like to use CityPass to get steep discounts on multiple attractions!
So, what’s stopping you?!
I love the east coast of the United States and cannot wait to go back and explore even more. To me, NYC=beauty, history, tasty, adventure…some of my favorite things! What are your favorite things to do in NYC? If you haven’t been, what would you like to see and do? Tell me in the comments!
My NYC trips were before cell phones had great cameras. You can tell the photos in this post are not great-it’s amazing how much better the cell phone cameras are now!
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