Actually, I have no idea if we looked like total tourists or not. I didn’t actually stop to ask anyone… “Hey, do I look like a total tourist? Not just a tourist, but a total one?” Honestly, we probably stuck out like sore thumbs. Especially when we opened our mouths to speak. People tell us we have soft accents and don’t sound totally red. So who knows. As we mentioned in our post last week… we had a great time, thus this post…things to see in New York City.
This was my fourth trip to NYC, Jamin’s first. So it was an interesting experience of hybrid must-dos things, to see in New York City to say the least. I guess you could say we felt a little like we wanted to do the classic sight seeing, and hit a few highlights in the two days’ time we had, without feeling too much like tourists. AKA not dropping hundreds upon hundreds for all the touristy stuff. It all adds up for what feels like some overrated jazz when you’re in the middle of selling your soul and the blood of your first born for a complete house rehab. Priorities.
I guess you could say this was NYC on the cheap, and on foot with a fun day full of whatever happens, happens. Thus, the title. It felt a little like our take on Disney, if I’m honest. Some of them were a lot of lines, minus the Mickey Mouse happiness or children-wide meltdowns. We’re glad we did it. Here’s a few of our faves, this time around.*
*We know this comes nowhere close to beginning to encompass everything. These are some things we were glad we were able to catch and see, along with a few more recommendations. For anyone planning a trip to NYC, we hope this gives a nice, quick, basic overview.
So without further ado…
Things to see in New York City.
Things to see in New York City – The Statue of Liberty :
Don’t pay to take the touristy cruise to Ellis island. It just sails around for two hours and then comes back – and even if you don’t get on the actual island, they’ll charge you sixty bucks for two people. For a view. From the distance. If you don’t want to set foot on the island, you can ride the public transportation Staten Island Ferry for free and then come back, without losing an entire day. It also gives you a nice glimpse of the real culture there… I can’t imagine riding back and forth every day for work or every day life. It’s a crazy lifestyle, but definitely worth experiencing for a real taste of it all. You can catch the Ferry at Battery Park.
We actually did this in the afternoon, right after the 911 memorial. I went out of order with this one, because it only felt right to start with the Statue of Liberty. They had coast guard escorts for each little trip. You can turn around and come right back. So cue the selfie with Lady Liberty.
Afterwards, head to Battery Park and catch the adorable sea glass carousel and sit with a nice sangria or local beer in the Table Green with a perfect view of everything. But before that…
Things to see in New York City – 911 Memorial & Museum:
If you cut it short in the afternoon, or start early in the morning with the Staten Island Tour, you’ll have time to squeeze in both in a day. We arrived Saturday around 11, checked into our hotel {just had them hold our bags until we could get in the room} toured the memorial, and then took the ferry. The museum itself takes about 3 hours to walk through. There are things I learned that I had no idea about that day. It was refreshing to remember the unity our country stood in together, despite the sadness. To say it puts things into perspective is an understatement. The 911 memorial is staggering… a must-see.
If you need to grab lunch, there is a great little food court inside the Brookfield mall across West Street with some local eats.
Once you’ve gone through the memorial, you can hop on the Subway #1 or take the the short walk South to Battery park. If you walk, you can hit Wall Street as well.
Things to see in New York City – The Empire State Building:
Don’t waste your time at the Empire State Building. It’s so neat to see, don’t get me wrong… but for great city wide views, go to top of the rock (@ rockafeller plaza) for awesome views of the city – less expensive. Still pricey, but less so.
Things to see in New York City – The Tonight Show/NBC Studios
DO IT. I toured this as a child and remember loving it. Of course we would have killed for tickets to The Tonight Show. But alas, his shows sell out two months in advance, and we didn’t know we were going that far ahead. Wompity womp. Next time, Jimmy. Next time.
Things to see in New York City – Times Square:
It’s worth seeing once. Not twice. Skip it if you’d rather do more things. We could basically people watch all day and be perfectly happy… it’s worth it just for the people watching.
A few notes: Nighttime is surreal but a little sketchier with the crowds. Skip any food in Times Square. And for what it’s worth, avoid the creepy rip off animal characters who chase you down for moolah if you take a photo with them.
Things to see in New York City – St. Patrick’s Cathedral –
Worth seeing for a good dose of beautiful architecture and windows. Don’t go in the side door on a Sunday. Trust us.
Things to see in New York City – 5th Avenue shopping and Tiffany’s:
It’s worth it to stroll fifth avenue, if even only for the window shopping. I mean we had to step inside the original Macy’s to say we’ve been there. Head there, and when you’re done perusing, Tiffany’s. You can go inside and see all the floors. It’s kind of amazing. I want to take Emerson when she’s of age, and purchase a small charm or something sweet… all for the experience.
But only after we brainwash her with the movie. ;} Cue Moon River ear worm.
After Tiffany’s, you’re only a few minutes away from…
Things to see in New York City – Central Park:
If you’ve never seen central park, do it on bike or by foot. Biking… It’s fun, but not for the weak hearted. Mind the traffic lights, major overload of pedestrians and all the other carriages. I was dodging kids half the time, or trying not to get run over by the people who were apparently out for a workout training for the Iron Man. You have to stay on the main loop with your bike, and it’s about six miles. Be sure to stop wherever you like {minding all the traffic} for great photo ops and a few sight seeing opportunities. Be ready for it. That’s the one where I got dehydrated so… just be forewarned… It doesn’t sound like it, but we still had fun. It’s a great way to get around quickly without paying an arm and a leg for a pedicab tour. We used Central Park Bike Rental off 58th street. They were friendly, the bikes worked great and they were very reasonably priced.
Things to see in New York City – Grand Central:
Apparently, it’s not cool to refer to it as a station anymore? Terminal instead? I have no idea. Either way, it’s a great place to get a lot of fun shots and how many movies have we seen with this scene in it?
The ceiling is amazing, and don’t miss the Whisper Wall-
Downstairs, there’s a place to the right of the food court area where you’ll see multiple arches converge together. You can stand in one corner, and someone can stand in another opposite corner. No matter how loud it is, you can hear that person. Just a fun little trick to try out. Because acoustics and science and architecture.
Here’s a few more little known facts about Grand Central Terminal, here. A marvel in itself.
Still on the list that we didn’t get to hit : read – I was sick all the next day in NYC before we met up with Swiffer, and I had to recover.
• MOMA + The Guggenheim – the artist/designer in me is super bummed about this one. Hit one of them if you can.
• ABC Carpet & Home + Chelsea Market – for sheer inspiration and shopping fun.
• China Town – but there weren’t enough hours in the day/our trip…
The list really can go on and on and on… It’s all in what you really want to see.
Things to see in New York City – Public Transportation:
Don’t be afraid to try out the subway. I’d like to sound tougher when I write this, but I’m just not. People will probably roll their eyes at me, but I don’t live there so I wouldn’t ride it past like, twelve at night. Watch your 6 but don’t be afraid. {Easier said than done, I know.} Just be aware. Be prepared to be hot and also be prepared to wait for the trains in between. Even with the handy apps. Also, if you’re anything like us you’ll get tired of it after like, three times. So check out our black car app below. ;}
It’s worth the experience to get outside of your comfort zone and say you did it. Just my take.
Handy apps for getting around:
Gett – NYC’s black car app – fast and efficient for getting around if you don’t want to do über. This black car service is awesome, it will take you anywhere in Manhattan for under $10 as long as it isn’t more than a 30 minute trip. They track the car on the app so you know when it’s outside and don’t have to worry about waiting. And if you get the dry heaves in their car, they’re totally not judgy at all. Even when you swear to them you aren’t on drugs. I have sensitive gastrointestinal issues, okay???
You’ll find a list of subway apps here, but we think the NYC subway app best. Accurate and timely. It will direct you to the closest station, give you a map to figure out where to go and by which train, not to mention what time the trains are coming.
Things to see in New York City – Places to eat:
If you’ve been reading for a while, you know we’re total foodies. {Just like probably everyone else} but we kinda know what good food is. Trust us on these. Don’t hit up the TGI Fridays that you have in your home town. Check out some of these delicious options. {Some of these from a friend who lived in NYC}
• Bubbys – near soho – perfect for brunch with a Southern American flare – and then pick up one of their cookbooks to thank your mom for keeping the kids ;} You have GOT to try their grits. Hit it on a weekday, and there shouldn’t be a line out the door.
• Rosa Mexicano – In Union Square – we walked out of our way for this one, per the recommendation of a friend, and it was totally worth it. Guacamole lovers everywhere, unite. But there’s a subway that will get you there, too. We were feeling adventurous.
• Magnolia Bakery – has the best banana pudding.
• Black Tap NYC – meat packing district – great shakes and burgers but honestly… also not worth the wait if it’s over an hour. We’re from the south so we know good burgers. But the shakes are great photo ops. ;} They usually have a line, so just know. Jamin says if you’re in the mood for a burger skip it, unless you want the photo, and try Shake Shack instead.
• Monster Sushi on 6th avenue for awesome sushi.
Things to see in New York City – General Tips:
• For a great, full-fledged itinerary option for first timers, be sure to check out this post here.
• Don’t be afraid to ask. If you’re curious about something or lost, you never know what you’ll learn, and most of them have great tips along the way. In general, New Yorkers are really nice. But you’ll also get a nice dose of the other side of the stereotype. For instance, we thought that the lady at the baggage claim right off the plane was going to snap our necks if we didn’t have our correct baggage claim ticket. #calmdown But then we met some really sweet people along the way. Just ask.
• Take a remote charger with you for your phone. All the tunnels and buildings and general grandiosity will drain your battery power. This is a great one and really, everyone needs this no matter where you live. At the very least, take a cord. It’s pretty common to charge up during lunch, if you can, but plugs are rare so we recommend the portable charger.
• Just because the crosswalk says don’t walk, doesn’t mean you can’t walk. You can go. Just make sure there’s no traffic coming to mow you down, obvi. Because they will. #itwasprobablythebaggageclaimlady
• If you go in the summer, be prepared for the heat. We’re from Alabama/Tennessee, so we know humidity. It was the same there. I wasn’t prepared for that. I have no idea why but I was picturing fall leaves and boots in early September. This makes me a certifiable idiot. If you’re going to sight see in warm weather, go comfortable. Half of New York is dressed like they’re about to run a marathon, and the other half is in all black, ready for the Oscars. I was somewhere in between. You won’t regret going for the sports bra and fit bit.
• Beware of puddles. We actually got this tip from a nice waiter at Rosa Mexicano who’s originally from our home town, Birmingham. He said he was actually splashed by a cab with a puddle. Like, in a movie. So be careful when you’re standing on street corners. ???
• Pay attention. Seriously. Watch what side of town you’re going to, and walk on the right side of the sidewalk. Just like driving. Don’t whip out your map and look confused. This is the key to not looking like a total tourist.
______________________
These are some of our fave tips for being total posers in NYC. We’d love to hear yours because we know we’re basically nowhere close to experts, but hope this list helps ya get started. Leave some of your favorite tips in the comments and share your knowledge of NYC with everyone.
Have an inspired day!
Mary says
Where is St. Peter’s Cathedral? I worked in NYC for over 20 years and have no idea where it is.
ashley @ the handmade home says
You don’t know where St. Peter’s Cathedral is?! Right off of platform 3 3/4 and the corner of 742 Evergreen Terrace. Duh. ;} This is what happens when you write a post hocked up on allergy meds. That would be St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I mean, I am such a non tourist I even make up my own code words. 😀 Thanks for pointing that one out!
Lori says
I was not sure what you meant by these phrases:
“…and don’t sound totally red”
” Watch your 6 but don’t be afraid.”
ashley @ the handmade home says
Red = short for redneck. We’re from Alabama/Tennessee. So we didn’t want to look like redneck tourists. This was humor.
Watch your 6 = watch your back. Pay attention. I don’t think it’s smart to tune out anywhere and take your surroundings for granted. The subway can be intimidating.
Anna says
I love these recommendations! We just booked our first trip, and it can’t come soon enough! Checking these out thank you!
monica says
Fun post. Love the sea glass carousel (too bad you didn’t post a picture). Yes, we take the boat (aka ferry) everyday. Wear sneakers (not tennis shoes) & leave our heels in our desk drawer for when we get to the office. Glad you enjoyed our city.