New York is becoming a second home to me. I would love to live in NYC permanently if given the chance. I love this city. There’s so much to do. Every time, I visit this amazing city I never get to do everything I’ve got on my list. So much to do and so little time to do it in. I also get very distracted and become in ore of where I am. I can walk around New York for hours and not get bored.
I’ve put together a list things I love to do in NYC from my last few visits. If you’re visiting NYC for the first time, I highly recommend adding some or ALL of these activities and sights below to make the ultimate New York experience.
TAKE A BIKE RIDE IN CENTRAL PARK
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I haven’t ridden a bike in years but riding around Central park with the wind in my hair was glorious. I loved every minute. It wasn’t expensive, I had lots of fun and I got some exercise in. Perfect day in the park.
WATCH AN AMERICAN MOVIE ON A NYC ROOFTOP
If your a movie nerd like me, then you’ll love this unique cinema experience. Rooftop Cinema Club brings you some of the best American movies and latest releases to the rooftop of the Hilton in the center of Manhattan. Chilling out on a real NYC rooftop, eating popcorn, on a deckchair with a great movie. Perfect for a couple or a date too if you meet someone in NYC. They also have other locations in San Diego, Los Angeles and London too.
WALK THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Burn those calories from all the american food you’ve been eating by walking the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s one of the most beautifully constructed and most famous bridges in the world. Start at either end and walk across. You can even cycle across by renting a bike. I prefer walking though so you can stop and enjoy the views and take photos along the way.
TAKE A WATER TAXI AROUND THE ISLAND
I’m not a massive fan of being on the water. I actually have a fear of open water which I am trying to get over so I can do another cruise and Medsailors trip. However, the NYC Water Taxi is a great way of seeing those epic city skyline views and getting closer to Lady Liberty.
SEE NEW YORK FROM ABOVE
If you want the best view of New York from above, you need to the get the Empire State building in it. So as much as you want to go up the Empire State building…don’t! Go up the Rockefeller Centre and do Top of the Rock. Then, you’ll get the photos you want and the views are incredible.
GRAB A SLICE OF NEW YORK CITY PIZZA
If you’re going to New York you need to have the real authentic American experience and have….A PIZZA! There’s a lot of places to choose from with no real right or wrong choice. You can get a Casey Neistat $1 pizza special or a famous slice of Artichoke Pizza. The choice is yours….and the pizza toppings is another difficult choice once you pick one.
EAT A REAL AMERICAN DESSERT
Desserts are a big thing in America. They even have them for breakfast!? You need to get your hands on a cupcake at least to see what the fuss is all about. I’m a huge fan of Cake Boss, which made me start my cake decorating business and helped me afford my first TrekAmerica trip.
DANCE ON THE COYOTE UGLY BAR
I’ve been in so many Coyote Ugly bars I’ve lost count. They are a great night out and are scattered across the states and in Europe. However, there’s nothing better than going to where it all started. NEW YORK! If you’ve seen the movie then you know exactly what to expect. If not, expect to dance on the bar, maybe lose an item of clothing or two, drink shots straight from the bottle and have a great night!
SEE TIMES SQUARE DURING THE DATE AND AT NIGHT
Times Square is super touristy but it’s a must on your check list. It’s the ultimate man made spectacle. There’s always something going on in the area. Dance mobs, you’re favourite movie characters come to life, some serious shopping time and don’t forget to take lots of photos. You have to see it both in the day and night so make sure you go back to see all the lights go on.
SEE A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Broadway musicals can be seriously expensive but there are ways to get cheaper tickets. There’s the TKTS box office under the red steps in Times Square or by bookings online via TodayTix. I highly recommend going to see a Broadway show during your stay. They’ve got the best of the best performing on their stages and the shows are incredible. I finally saw Lion King and it was one the highlights of my trip!
Check out my New York travel vlogs to see me experiencing some of the above activities:
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Have you done anything in New York City you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below.
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Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to Rooftop Cinema Clubs showing of Taxi Driver in NYC. As always, all opinions and words are my own.
Rachael Stray says
I love New York! I’d totally recommend getting a water taxi too!
Priscilla says
Been hearing things about Rooftop Cinema Club, Will definitely try it. Thanks and Best Regards!