Top Ten To Do's In New York

Kelly Smith on 30 July 2019

New York is a thrilling city, that really doesn’t sleep! There is always something to do! From Midtown and Greenwich, to Ellis Island and Battery Park, Manhattan itself has an array of activities for all types of visitors, from families to couples and solo travellers. I have personally been lucky enough to visit this wonderful city a few times and each time have done something a little different. To help you with planning, you can find my top ten things to do in New York with a few tips to help!

One World Trade Centre (Freedom Tower) - My Favourite

Your adventure starts from the moment you enter the Sky-Pod Elevator and climb 102 stories in 47 seconds. This astonishing ride reveals the transformation of New York City from unsettled lands to today’s remarkable forest of skyscrapers. One World Trade Center is also known as the Freedom Tower. The moment you exit the elevator is when you need your camera ready! The big reveal is well worth the worry, and the first glimpse of the spectacular skyline will be one to remember, It will take your breath away!

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

This lovely monument stands proudly in the Hudson River as a beacon welcoming everyone to the city. There are a few ways to see the Statue of Liberty. The free way is to get on the Staten Island ferry and sail past. The best way is to book onto the Statue of Liberty cruises and sail to the island, with an audio tour. You can book a reserve ticket, a pedestal ticket (which gets you entry into the base of the statue, or the crown. You can go to the top of the crown, which has fabulous views, but it does need to be booked at least 3 months in advance to guarantee entry. You will also need to take ID such as your passport and although an amazing experience, it wouldn’t be suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or claustrophobia.

Empire State Building

This is the icon of New York, featured in countless movies, skyline pictures and the affections of many! You can’t really go to New York without a visit here. You can go to the Observatory decks on the 86th and 102nd floors and have a 360-degree view of New York. There is also the Dare to Dream Exhibit to visit if you have time. My favourite views here are in the morning, the Empire State Building is open from 8am, so get in early and avoid the crowds! The morning sun lights up the whole of the city in a spectacular fashion! The Observation decks are open until 2am, so you can defintely find time to fit in a visit.

Rockefeller Centre/Top of the Rock

Again, another iconic building of New York. A wonderful place to go ice skating around Christmas time, the famous Christmas Tree lighting (usually end of November) and here are some spectacular views from the ‘Top of the Rock’. Tours around the building can be pre-booked, learning about the history and architecture of this famous building. Or you can just visit the Top of the Rock, three observation decks, with unobstructed views across the city, on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors.

There are three levels of observation decks to explore at Top of the Rock. The first deck includes the Radiance Wall and gift shop. The second, featuring the Breezeway, is entirely outdoors. The third observation deck, located on the 70th floor open-air roof deck, is completely outdoors and free of a glass enclosure, making it perfect for photos. My favourite time to go to the Top of the Rock is in the evening, here you can see the Empire State building lit up and the rest of NYC with their dazzling lights!

9/11 Tribute Museum and Memorial

This poignant landmark keeps the memories alive of the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives in the September 11th, 2001 and February 26th, 1993. The memorial is free to visit and a very surreal experience. My advice is to take tissues and be prepared to remember where you were on that fateful day. The memorial glade is beautiful and a great place to reflect and remember. You also have the survivor tree – the tree that survived the attack in 2001 and serves as a memory of hope. The museum is ticket only, but again a wonderful tribute to all that lost their lives and what many of them and firefighters, police officers and paramedics went through on that day. You may also bump into a few people working there, who were either survivors or assisted in the saving of many lives.

Central Park

This famous park houses so many treats for you to visit. A bike is the best way to see the park in a short space of time. These can be hired, and you can ride around the park alone if you want to or you could book a cycle tour? Visit the John Lennon memorial, Strawberry Fields on the west side of the park, the bridges and archways that found fame in many a New York based movie, the Central Park Carousel, Belvedere Castle and the many statues and monuments. Not forgetting Central Park Zoo, you could spend all day in this park. In wintertime there’s ice skating, which gets booked up, so I advise to book tickets in advance. Great fun!

Carlo’s Bakery, Hoboken

For anyone that has watched Buddy and his ‘familia’ in Cake Boss, this is a must visit. Just a short Path Train to Hoboken New Jersey and then a short walk from the station, this famous bakery houses all of those lovely treats from cannoli’s, Crumb Cake and full size cakes to take away, along with some lovely coffee!

Times Square

A must visit in the evening when everything is in lights! It’s a great place for shopping and dining too!

Madison Square Garden

If there is a basketball or ice hockey game on whilst you’re in New York, there is no better way to see Madison Square Garden. Be prepared to see some of the best teams in the USA play here, with a great atmosphere, just like you see on TV! You can buy tickets at the box office subject to availability, or they can be bought online prior to the event.

Some other ideas on where to visit whilst you’re in the Big Apple.

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