The Great Jack Olantern Blaze
This activity is one of the best fall activities you can do in the city. Its one of the most popular and well-known Halloween activities in the area, and its easy to see why. While its not technically in the city, its not too far and definitely accessible. Located at the Van Cortlandt Manor on the Hudson River, this festival is filled with over 7,000 pumpkins that have been carved. Its a light-filled, spooky Halloween activity that people of all ages can enjoy.
The Yankee Stadium Tour
To tour Yankee Stadium, you’ll have to head to the Bronx, and for sports fans, it’s often a highlight of their trip. Knowledgeable tour guides take visitors through Yankee Stadium featuring highlights that go beyond the sights youve seen on TV. The Yankees remain a significant force in NYC culture, and an in-depth tour of the stadium shows visitors the team spirit of New Yorkers from all five boroughs.
Find The Next Big Thing At The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known informally as the Met, is a New York City institution. As famous for its annual fashion ball as it is for its forward-thinking art exhibitions, The Met has become the barometer of new and next for many a New Yorker. Its gothic building is also home to exquisite fine art that spans over 5,000 years including Rembrandts, Vermeers, cool medieval armour and an ancient Egyptian temple. The storytime events at the Nolan Library are particularly great for kids.
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See The Morgan Library
Okay, so the Morgan Library was somewhere we only just discovered on our last trip to New York. I honestly cant believe we hadnt been before.
Perched in Midtown, relatively close to the Top Of The Rock, its a great place to see one of the most incredible libraries in all of New York.
Tickets are relatively cheap and you can easily spend an hour wandering around the rooms and learning more all about this grand library. Its stunning.
Exhibition Of The Week: Native New York
What makes New York a Native place? A new exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian, Native New York, journeys through city, state, and time to explore this question. Through objects, media, interactives, and narrative comics the exhibition takes visitors to 12 places in present-day New York to demonstrate how the state is, and always has been, a Native place. From Haudenosaunee ironworkers who helped build Manhattans iconic skyscrapers to Lenape teens visiting their ancestral home, stories of Native New Yorkers provide an expanded understanding of the regions history and present.
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See The New Whitney Museum Of American Art
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Set in one of the most exciting new buildings in Manhattan in decades, the Whitney’s Renzo Piano-designed building opened in 2015 to many accolades. The museum’s collect spans six floors and 50,000 square feet of indoor gallery space, all dedicated to American artists across centuries. In addition to the expansive galleries, outdoor space showcases more art as well as offering views of the Hudson River, lower Manhattan, and the surrounding Meatpacking District.
How Much Money Does The Citypass Save You
The total cost to enter all of these attraction separately would cost $215.45, but the New York CityPASS is just $132. Thats a 41% savings!
Thinking you only want to go to a few of these sites? There is a New York C3 PASS that allows you to choose 3 of these attractions for $83 a 25% savings!
The other perk of the CityPASS is you wont have to wait in the ticket line at most of the attractions. We got to skip the ticketing line at most places which was pretty convenient.
Book your New York CityPASS and get ready to see some of NYCs top sights!
*Weve denoted some of the attractions that are part of the CityPASS with an asterisk so you can see if it makes sense for you to purchase the pass. Prices are from March 2019.
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Visit Coney Island Something You Must Do In New York
A visit to Coney Island is something you must do in NYC, whether youre a local or a tourist. This place offers something for all ages, from exciting amusements to a tranquil beach.
24. Visit Coney Island, something you must do in New York
Coney Island is most enjoyable during the summertime, when you can visit Luna Park and DenosWonder Wheel Amusement Park, one of the nations oldest amusement parks. Here, you can ride the legendary Cyclone wooden rollercoaster, the historic B& B Carousell, and the famous Wonder Wheel, which features stationary cabins and several others that travel on tracks to opposite sides of the wheel.
If you prefer something more low-key, you can take a stroll on the beach or boardwalk. Also, the neighborhood has a large Russian-speaking population, which is reflected in the areas bakeries and shops.
Check Out Some Broadway Shows
If you love live productions then you know one of the top things to do in NYC is to take in a Broadway show. Times Square is in the heart of Broadway and streets jutting off from the square have marquee billboards showcasing the latest Broadway productions.
Movie stars always flex their acting chops on Broadway and theres no better way to see your favorite star than to go and see them in a play. The New York Pass app lets you know what deals you can get while you are in town. Make sure to book your tickets in advance, especially if you plan on taking in one of the more popular shows.
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Very Best Things To Do In New York
New York is an incredible city to explore! Its a hive of activity, buzzing with life, culture and loads of foodie haunts to fill up at. That being said, with all these best things to do in New York, it can be hard to prioritize just a few of the best areas of the city.
Now, you can obviously see a lot in a day in New York. That being said, theres a massive amount of free things to do in New York that youll probably end up spending months trying to see. Obviously, if youre heading across for a long weekend or a quick stopover, then youll want to cram in as much as you can.
Truthfully, New York is the kind of city thats always changing and pretty exciting to explore, even if youve been more than once. Ive popped across the pond countless times and each stay in New York has been completely different.
And you know what, this is the same for the best things to do in New York, too. Theres always so snazzy new club, art gallery, cool viewpoints and secret spots to explore.
With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the best things to do in New York on your next trip to the Big Apple. Have the best time in the city!
Where To Stay In New York City
Theres absolutely no shortage of accommodation in New York City, and the first thing youll need to do when deciding where to stay is to pick a Manhattan neighbourhood to use as a base.
It all depends on your budget and what you want to see when youre in town, and theres plenty of great articles online to help you decide which one suits you.
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The New York Met Cloisters
Located on four acres in northern Manhattans Fort Tryon Park, the Met Cloisters may be a branch of the Metropolitan deposit of Art and is Americas sole deposit dedicated completely to the art and design of the center Ages. The building overlooks the river and incorporates 5 medieval-inspired cloisters into a contemporary deposit structure, making a historic, contextualized scene within which to look at the art.
The American Museum Of Natural History
If you are looking for things to do in New York with kids, then the American Museum of Natural History is one of the places you will want to add to your itinerary. This is a fun museum for them to see dinosaurs, life size animals and scenic displays.
We didnt love this the American Museum of Natural History museum, but a lot of people do! And the life-like displays are very impressive.
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The Radio City Stage Door Tour
Radio City Music Hall is a great place to go to enjoy performances of the iconic Rockettes. On the Radio City Stage Door Tour®, you will have the opportunity to meet and have your photo taken with a world-famous Rockette.
During the tour you will also get to view the auditorium, the celebrity guestbook, and discover the secrets and history of the Great Stage, where some the biggest and best names in entertainment have performed.
New York Harbour And Statue Of Liberty Evening Cruise
Downtown New York is stunning from the water by day, but the sight of the harbour and skyline at night is one of those experiences that will stay with you long after youve gone home.
GetYourGuide.com has an hour-long cruise after sunset, with running commentary imparting titbits you might not have known.
The cruise departs from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport, and arcs around Lower Manhattan to take in the Statue of Liberty, the forest of skyscrapers including the likes of One World Trade Center, and then under the Brooklyn Bridge and up as far as the Empire State Building.
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Best Hostel In New York City The Local Nyc
If, like us, budget travel is more your style dont fret. Staying in a fabulous budget friendly hostel in NYC is an option. The Local NYC is likely the best hostel in New York City. The Long Island City hostel is located right across the East River from Midtown and is only a 10 minute subway ride away from 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
The hostel has a lovely rooftop patio with skyline views of Manhattan, large and immaculately clean rooms with lockers and uber comfy mattresses, and an onsite bar for mingling or to enjoy live music and locally crafted brews on tap. For the cheapest prices at The Local NYC click here.
As always, happy travels, and well see you on the road!
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Industry City Brooklyn Navy Yard & Brooklyn Army Terminal
In a city that places a high premium on space, Brooklyn now claims three trendy and exciting rehabilitated industrial areas, commandeered by entrepreneurs, artisanal makers, retailers, artists, start-ups and nonprofits. Industry City occupies six large warehouses on the Sunset Park waterfront.
Further south, 100-plus companies fill the vast and storied Brooklyn Army Terminal. And east of Downtown Brooklyn, the expansive, historical Brooklyn Navy Yard is a modern made-in-Brooklyn manufacturing hub.
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The Guggenheim In New York
This incredible museum will steal your heart, not only for the incredible works it houses, but also for its design and structure, unique in the world. Enter its majestic staircase and feel how you lose track of time in the heart of Manhattan inside the Guggenheim New York, you won’t regret it!
Get To Know The Mythical Madison Square Garden
You may not be that big of a fan of the NBA itself, but you’re dying to discover this venue where so many artists and sports teams have made history. There are guided tours of the venue, you can attend concerts and you can, of course, see the Knicks play at home. Here’s how to buy tickets to Madison Square Garden.
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Go To The Coney Island Boardwalk
Coney Island is probably best in the summer, late spring, or early Fall. But if you’re there for Nathan’s hot dogs anyway, you might as well stick around regardless of the weather.
In the summer, drink margaritas and people-watch. It’s my favorite thing to do in addition to lounging on the beach, jumping in the water, or catching a ride at Luna Park. Yes, Luna Park is the original park with the sister park I saw while visiting Melbourne, Australia!
You could also check out a live show at the Ford Amphitheater. Jono and I caught Ziggy Marley live in concert this past summer.
We had just missed the Mermaid Parade which takes place in June every year. Check it out if you’re there for itâit’s an incredibly funny, creative, and sexy parade of sea life! Here are some photos I took in years past:
Observation Decks: Empire State Top Of The Rock One World Observatory Edge
New York City has an amazing urban skyline, and weve got the observation decks to go with it. The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and the One World Observatory are three of the best. No matter which one you choose, youll be guaranteed an amazing view and an unforgettable experience.
However, doing all three isnt worth the time and money for most people, so I suggest choosing one and take lots of photos. Each has its own benefits. Here are some highlights at a glance, but Ive linked each one to an in-depth blog post about that attraction so you can read more and decide which one works for you.
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One World Trade Center & One World Observatory
The journey begins on the ground level of One World Trade Center, also known as Freedom Tower, which at 1776-feet is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Sky Pod elevators with LED walls depict time-lapse animations of NYC’s 500-year evolution during the 47-second, 102-story ascent to One World Observatory. Up top, three levels of distraction, including restaurant, bar and interactive guided tours, are no match for the truly incomparable panorama. Purchase ahead for timed-entry tickets.
Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum
The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid , which served in the Pacific during the Second World War, surviving five kamikaze attacks, was rescued from scrapping in 1978 and in 1982 found a permanent home at Pier 86 off 46th Street.
This is the centrepiece of a museum for US military and maritime history, allowing you to pore over the inner workings of a WWII-era aircraft carrier, but also view a serious collection of other vessels and aircraft.
One of the highlights, the USS Growler is the only American guided missile submarine open to the public, while the BA Concorde at Pier 86 broke the Concordes transatlantic crossing record in 1996. In the Space Shuttle Pavilion you can view the Enterprise, the prototype Space Shuttle orbiter, rolled out in 1976.
Brooklyns 526-acre Prospect Park is a beautiful place to get lost, dotted with historic buildings, little attractions and sports facilities, all on a hilly terminal moraine from the last Ice Age.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the men behind Central Park, Prospect Park took shape during the 1860s, and has a ceremonious entrance to the north, on the Grand Army Plaza, via the Soldiers and Sailors Arch . New buildings were being added well into the early 20th century.
One of these is the elegant Boathouse on the Lullwater , a channel of the parks lake.
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Holiday Trains Are Back
Image courtesy of The New York Botanical Garden.
For the 30th year, The New York Botanical Garden lays out the tracks for its Holiday Train Show. Explore a miniature wonderland of 175 New York landmarksincluding the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Rockefeller Centerall made with natural ingredients like acorns, pine cones, and seeds. The scene is cozy inside the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory . At night, the garden lights up for GLOW, a mile-and-a-half long light show.
A Holiday Show From Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleils first holiday show is back after selling out to enthusiastic crowds in 2019. Twas the Night Before… conveys its message of sharing and friendship courtesy of delightful characters that come alive with Cirques unique and breathtaking acrobatic magic. Limited run through December 27th, get your tickets nowuse code GUIDE for up to 50% off select performances. Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
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Classic Things To Do In New York City
Take in the views from the Empire State Building
Theres nothing like enjoying great panoramic views of New York City and the Empire State Building is perfect for that. Completed in 1931, this was the tallest building in the world at the time it was built.
Go right before the sun sets, for an even better experience, but beware there may be lines for the tickets, as well as for the elevator to the observatory.
The Empire State Building is open daily from 12:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickets start at $42 USD and must be bought ahead of time. You can get your tickethere or, for a late night visit, here.
Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Albeit located in New Jersey state, the Statue of Liberty a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the symbol of the city. The typical starting point to visit it is Battery Park, from where ferries leaves. As the ferry gets closer, the views of the Statue and of Manhattan are impressive.
Once there, you can get to the Pedestal to visit the museum and learn about the its history. Tours usually continue to Ellis Island before heading back to Manhattan.
Tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island last around 4 hours. They must be booked in advance. You can consider this Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island early access tour or this private tour. The first ferry departs at 8:30 am.
For the best tours of the Statue of Liberty, click here.
Take the Staten Island ferry
Wander around the Meatpacking District
Walk the High Line
Visit the Vessel
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