New York City is undoubtedly one of the busiest places on Earth. There’s so much to do, see, eat, explore, and experience in the city that truly never sleeps. So when you arrive, you’ll want to be prepared with a list of at least a few things to do, right away. While part of the fun of seeing a new city is allowing the day to take you wherever it may go (sometimes spontaneous moments are the best ones), it’s always a good rule of thumb to be prepared.
Are you ready to be a New York tourist? Here are five things to make your trip memorable.
Shine brightly in Times Square
Times Square lights up New York City like nothing you will have ever seen. It might even be the first thing tourists think of when visiting the Big Apple. It’s brilliantly bright at night and buzzes during the day with supremely high, animated billboards and a seemingly endless amount of people who walk about at all hours. There are museums, like Madam Tussauds, and plenty of shops, or take your pictures with special characters that line the streets. Nearby there are also live studio products of TV shows like Good Morning America or some of your favorite late-night shows nearby. With these, you can sign up online and win your chance to be part of a live studio audience (but do it early and plan ahead, as some of these have waitlists for weeks).
Get tickets to a Broadway show
Experience a world-class theatrical production on Broadway, like nowhere else you’ll have ever seen. Broadway shows can range from decade-long classics to new hits, for all ages, with world-class performers and playwrights. You can purchase tickets ahead of time to head to the TKTS booth in Times Square and try and score some last-minute seats to your favorite shows. You’ve heard the term “off broadway.” Well, now it’s your turn to see your favorite, or newly discovered favorite, hits on Broadway, live. Plus, it’s right in the middle of Times Square.
Pay tribute at One World Trade
One World Trade holds ground where the former Twin Towers once stood. Although solemn ground, visiting this area is an absolute must for any New York tourist. After you silently pay your respects at the memorial site (note, selfies are not encouraged due to the events of September 11th, 2001), there are plenty of uplifting activities to enjoy. You can take a ride to the top of the Freedom Tower and dine at the One World Observatory restaurant, or take a tour of the 360-degree panoramic view. On the ground, explore the Oculus mall where you can shop, view art, or enjoy bites and beers at the beer garden.
Watch a game, of any kind, year-round
New York has no shortage of games every season throughout the year for that die-hard sports enthusiast. Love baseball? Then catch a ballgame in the Bronx at the world-famous Yankee Stadium, where you can wear that Yankee hat you likely bought long ago. If you want to see a game with a little more about the underdog, take a trip into Queens to Citi Field and watch the Mets in a stadium more akin to an amusement park. Rather watch basketball? New York has that too—the Brooklyn Nets over in Brooklyn or the world-famous Knicks at “the world’s most famous arena” in Madison Square Garden. Prefer the wintery fun of hockey? In the colder months, The Garden hosts the Rangers or you can take a brief trip over to Nassau County Long Island for the Islanders. World-class tennis takes place at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens for normal tournaments and matches for the US Open. But those who love American football might be shocked to learn that the New York Jets and Giants both play at Giants Stadium based in New Jersey, about 30-minutes outside of Manhattan. Whatever your sport is, New York is the city for you.
Ride the Staten Island Ferry
For a free way to see New York City by boat, you can ride the Staten Island Ferry from downtown Manhattan for absolutely no cost. On this roughly 30-minute ride, each way, you’ll pass by Governors Island, Liberty State Park, and the Statue of Liberty, as you head to Staten Island. You’ll be able to view Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, and the entire New York Harbor all for the low cost of zero dollars. You don’t even need to debark once you arrive, you can just ride it both ways for all of the views.
New York City is a hectic place to be for locals and tourists. So, if you want to make the most of your stay in the Big Apple then a pro tip is to immediately find luggage storage New York City. Some hotels don’t let you check in right away or they might not hold your luggage until you can. Fortunately, there are lots of places you can store your belongings for a few hours or even days as you make the most of your trip to New York City. After all, you don’t want to be held back or weighed down by anything in the busy city.
