So I just got back from a long weekend New York and although it was the first trip in a while that I didn’t do with Olivia I thought it would be worth putting a blog post together of some recommendations. Before I went I personally was googling ‘best places to go in NYC’, ‘best brunch spots in NYC’ etc and could not really find what I was looking for. So, hopefully for anyone reading this who is in need of some New York recommendations on the best places to eat, tips on getting around and ways to have an amazing time whilst not breaking the bank then please keep on reading!
TIME OF YEAR
Now, this is was my first ever visit to the Big Apple and so I therefore can not comment on other times of year to go but what I can do is tell you about NYC in January. Everyone says how absolutely freezing it is in New York in January and to be honest I was actually hoping for the snow that had been predicted. However, although cold, all it took was a big fluffy coat, a hat and a pair of gloves. We even got sunshine which made the city look even more beautiful and allowed for maximum walking around! The lower temperatures meant less people and less people meant less queueing for the best tourist spots, less pushing around and more room on the plane for stretching out!
GETTING AROUND
Make sure you get your most comfortable pair of shoes on because extensive walking is inevitable. Although I did a huge amount of walking I found this was the best way to get a real feeling of the city as I stepped from one area and in to another and found I was often stumbling across another amazing sight I might not have seen had a not been wandering past.
Do NOT underestimate the Subway! If you are familiar with the the tube in London there is no reason why you couldn’t navigate the Subway. It is super easy and if you are a keen saver then why spend $87 of a taxi from the airport when you could spend $2.50 on the Subway. More money to spend on clothes and pancakes, just saying!
Despite my comment on the taxi I think you do need at least one ride in a yellow taxi when you go to New York don’t you?
WHERE TO EAT
I was only in New York for 4 days so I am sure there are many more amazing places to eat and drink but here are some places I went to that i would most definitely recommend:
Jacks Wife Freda
My first recommendation is a classic ‘blogger’ one but that is for a reason. The selection of food means there is something for everyone and the lovely waitress even altered the Shakshouka for me so that it would taste even better than advertised as that was how she had it! FYI this is adding feta cheese and avocado!
Catch NYC
With New York being full of coffee shops and cafes we wanted to make sure we had one restaurant night and after a quick Google search decided to head to Catch NYC. This was a great choice (if I do say so myself), the vibe was super cool and the food was incredible! The ‘Hit Me’ chocolate pudding is something every human should try because words can not describe it!
2 Bros Pizza
I mean, it’s an obvious requirement that you need a slice of New York Pizza isn’t it? Well for $1 a slice you can get just that at 2 Bros Pizza which can be found dotted around Midtown. It was filled with locals letting us know that this was the walk-in-pizza-place-to-be!
ATTRACTIONS
Don’t underestimate just how much you can get done in a short space of time in New York, even in a long weekend you can get a huge amount done as quite a few of the attractions can be seen in one day. Below are some things which I would consider a must!
The Staten Island Ferry
For absolutely free you can go on a boat ride and see the amazing New York skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the World Trade Centre and more! The ferry goes every half an hour or so and in our case it was a lovely sunny day so we sat in the chilly sunshine look at the amazing view. A no brainer really and quite fun to see the city from afar!
The Top of the Rockefeller
For some breathtaking views head to the top of the Rock. You get 360 views including the view of the empire state building, this is a good alternative to heading up the Empire State itself.
Central Park
For all the Home Alone/Maid in Manhattan feels this is a must. It is beautiful and the type of place you could either spend a whole day walking around or just pop along for a hot dog and to take in the views. The feeling of being beside a lake and surrounded by trees but looking at a mass of towering buildings is nothing like I have ever seen before.
Maddison Square Gardens
If you can get a chance to see anything here it is certainly worth the experience. We picked up some tickets for a college game of ice hockey and you know all those American teenage films we have grown up watching? Well yes it was JUST like that, American Pie band, cheer squad and all. We just don’t do it like that in the UK! It was such a fun evening and how many people can say they have been?!
I hope this gives you a few ideas if you are planning a trip to the Big Apple!
Love Alice Xx