A weekend New York City trip is not only fun but, can also be educational. New York City, also known as Manhattan, is the largest city in the US with an estimated population of 8,398,748 and located on one of the world’s largest natural harbors. There are roughly 800 languages spoken here so, keep an ear out while strolling through the city. MyTransit NYC Subway, Bus, Rail should be the first app you download for a weekend in New York City trip. It will be extremely helpful when navigating the city via train or bus. The city is known for its public transportation so other suggested apps to download are Uber, Lyft and Via. Cost does vary depending on the time of day and weather. Oh and, beware of surcharges during rush hours. With so many things to do and see in New York City here are some ideas to help plan a weekend New York City trip.
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Exploring the City on a Tour or Excursion
If creating an itinerary and exploring alone is not preferred there are plenty of tours and excursions to choose from. One can enjoy the breathtaking views from a helicopter ride or a cruise that can take anyone from the East River to the Hudson or vice versa. Check out Liberty Helicopters if this is something of interest.
If a cruise is more your style, depending on the type selected one can travel via yacht or sailboat. There are also brunch, dinner or happy hour cruises. The Hornblower Cruise lines are among the favorites.
If one prefers to stay on land during their weekend New York City trip, there are double-decker tour buses you can ride with guides who will share the details and history of the city. It’s almost like having a historian in your ear at all times. If anyone is looking for a good laugh there are tour buses guided by comedians. Check out The Ride for an Off-Broadway show on wheels.
Museums and Monuments are a Must
One thing is certain, the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty are iconic symbols of the city and are highly recommended sights to see on your weekend trip to New York City. Surrounding the Freedom Tower you’ll find the 9/11 memorial and museum.
If art is something you care to enjoy, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are among the most popular museums to visit. Keep an eye out for special exhibits that may be seasonal. For history buffs, there is even the American Museum of Natural History. It truly is a fascinating museum to check out. Finally, for a one of kind experience, The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum will blow anyone away. It is like an interactive journey as you can explore the aircraft carrier “Intrepid”, the space shuttle “Enterprise”, jets and a guided missile submarine.
Read More: 11 Cool Things to do in NYC
Rooftops for your Weekend New York City Trip
New York City is quite congested. To make up for space instead of building outward the city has built up allowing its visitors to witness some of the most spectacular views. The most popular rooftops are The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock at Rockafeller Center, and One World Observatory which is inside the One World Trade Center. Some Skydecks are indoors which, allows anyone to enjoy a good view 365 days a year. However, call in advance if there are severe weather warnings to ensure sky decks are not closed. There are some sky decks or rooftops with bars or restaurants and 230 Fifth is one of them.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a beautiful rooftop that is enveloped in vines with views overlooking Central Park, Central Park West, and South. Again, we suggest looking them up before visiting as times are seasonal. Be aware that there are entrance fees to some sky decks so, don’t be shocked when they ask for tickets.
Food is Always a Good Idea
Due to the diversity of the city, you can literally find cuisine from any part of the world right in New York City. The food scene is abundant and constantly changing. For Italian food, Little Italy in the Soho section of Manhattan is perfect. For Asian food, Chinatown is obviously a must. Made in New York Pizza located in the Upper West Side section of Manhattan has the best Sicilian style pizza hands down, but for New York-style pizza there’s Joe’s pizza located in the West Village. Don’t forget to fold your pizza to eat it the New York City way.
If one is feeling fancy and wants to fine dine, Del Frisco’s, Avra, Cipriani, and Nobu are among the best restaurants in the city, but you will likely need to call ahead for reservations. However, if you plan to simply grab quick bites on the go during your weekend New York City trip, make sure to check out the Shake Shack, Hallal Guys, and Dig Inn. Fortunately, the best apps and websites are available at your fingertips to help you chose the perfect culinary experience, check out Yelp and The Infatuation for your New York City dining experiences.
Read More: 10 NY State Attractions You Did Not Know About
The Kids Will Approve
A weekend New York City trip is something the entire family can enjoy. For starters, there’s the zoo inside of Central Park which will not take up the entire day but will make for a memorable, family-friendly trip if the kids are with you. There are carousels in Central Park, Bryant Park, Battery Park and at Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can even spend some time creating your very own New York City work of art at Color Me Mine where one can paint and customize their own ceramic pieces and take them home as a souvenir.
Playgrounds are a dime a dozen, and many of the museums in the city are child-friendly. The Transit Museum in Brooklyn is very fun and interactive. It’s an easy train ride to get there from Manhattan. Their goal here is to educate their visitors on the history of the New York transit system and experience what it was once like. It’s tons of fun!
Finally, if the kids are into sports check out a Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Mets or Rangers game depending on the season you are in the city.
Before booking excursions or purchasing tickets for your weekend New York City trip be sure to check out sites such as, Groupon, TravelZoo or Living Social that may offer discounts or deals. Often times you can find a two for one offer which, is a steal. For last-minute hotel deals download the app Hotel Tonight. If their rooms haven’t sold they always offer discounted rates to help secure their sale. Skiplagged is another great app that offers flight deals. Google and Trip Advisor are always resourceful sites and don’t be afraid to ask locals for help or directions. New Yorkers are proud of their city and love to share it with the world.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out A New York Vacation off the Beaten Path.
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