New York. Concrete jungle where dreams are made, the city that never sleeps, the Big Apple. Traversing through this beautiful city gives you the feeling of traveling across 100 different countries fit into one small island, 13 miles long and two miles wide. And that’s one thing that NY has always been known for – population diversity. The place is so happening that even locals can’t keep on top of everything that the city has to offer.
Our Story
We have been longing to visit this place for over two years and finally got a chance to spend 10 days here. This place truly has more to explore than one can ever imagine. We landed at the LaGuardia airport in New York. It was about 11:30pm in the night and we were welcomed with fully packed roads and slow moving cars. It is true – This city really never sleeps!!
We took an Uber from the Airport to our mutual friend’s place in New Jersey, where we were planning to crash for the next 10 days. We got up the next day morning to get this spectacular view of the NY skyline right through the living room’s window.
We just couldn’t wait to get out and explore and off we were – Catching trains and buses to get to places and capture the beauty that this place had to offer. Our first stop was the new World Trade Center building, which reminded us of the horrific event that took place on September 11, 2001. The 104-storey skyscraper stood right in front of us conveying a message to each and every one – “No matter what happens, stay strong”.
You never get bored when you walk on the streets of New York. The place is a historic beauty with 1800s buildings standing tall and strong. The mind boggling view of the World Trade Center got our spirits high and we kept going. Our next stop was the world famous Wall Street (reminded us of the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street”), where we got to see some popular buildings like the Trump tower, New York Stock Exchange, the Trinity church and the Federal Hall. And of course, we couldn’t miss getting a glimpse of the Raging Bull and the Fearless Girl.
We then went on to visit some of the most popular museums in the world – The National Museum of American Indian, the Guggenheim museum and the Copper Hewitt National Design Museum.
We were then on our way to the Battery Park where we got a distant and foggy view of the Statue of Liberty. And like everyone else, we ended up at Times Square later during the evening and were welcomed with bright lights and hoardings all around.
Night Life in New York is at a completely different level and that one must definitely experience at least once in a lifetime. Though we were really tired of walking around all day, we didn’t miss going to a nearby club and rock the dance floor.
The next day, we started at about 10:00 am in the morning and visited a couple of museums – the Frick’s collection (definitely a must-see for art lovers), which will just make you wonder if such man-made beauty really existed and the Harlem’s museum, which was pretty amazing too. We then headed to the Cathedral church of St. John the Divine – the largest church in North America and well, trust us folks– it was HUGE!! Sitting there for a few minutes can relax your mind and muscles and can take you into a deep meditation state.
Our next stop was New York’s most famous landmark – The Rockefeller Center. It was just a pleasure to see flags of every country flying high up in the air here. The Rockefeller Center is a perfect spot for evening walks. We spent some time here watching some professionals showing their incredible moves in the Ice Skating Arena and then went around the mall.
We followed a flexible schedule for the weekdays by working during the day and traveling in the evenings. We set out the next day and headed straight to Little Italy and China Town. Little Italy is basically a three block stretch down Mulberry Street from Canal Street to Broome Street. If you are interested in authentic Italian food, this is THE place for you. China Town, on the other hand is pretty huge. On one side, you’ll find the vegetable and fish/meat vendors and on the other side are tourist shops and restaurants. A visit to China Town feels like entering a completely different world. It’s a colorful spectacle that gets even more crowded on weekends, when families stream in to enjoy huge dim sum feasts. From the Peking duck to tasty hand made noodles – you can find all kinds of authentic Chinese food here. Here are some of the Best restaurants in China Town. This place has the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere. The best thing about this place is that everything is inexpensive – souvenirs and clothes to fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.
We followed a flexible schedule for the weekdays by working during the day and traveling in the evenings. We set out the next day and headed straight to Little Italy and China Town. Little Italy is basically a three block stretch down Mulberry Street from Canal Street to Broome Street. If you are interested in authentic Italian food, this is THE place for you. China Town, on the other hand is pretty huge. On one side, you’ll find the vegetable and fish/meat vendors and on the other side are tourist shops and restaurants. A visit to China Town feels like entering a completely different world. It’s a colorful spectacle that gets even more crowded on weekends, when families stream in to enjoy huge dim sum feasts. From the Peking duck to tasty hand made noodles – you can find all kinds of authentic Chinese food here. Here are some of the Best restaurants in China Town. This place has the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere. The best thing about this place is that everything is inexpensive – souvenirs and clothes to fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.
Our next stop was the Mahayana Buddhist temple. It is known for the 16 ft Buddha – also happens to be the tallest Buddha statue in New York.
In the evening, we took a stroll on the high line, one of Manhattan’s most popular attractions. There’s nothing quite like spending an evening on the skyline. The 1.45 mile-long strip features lovely wildflowers, greenery and outdoor art, while offering walkers some of the best views in NYC.
The next day’s plan covered the 9/11 memorial, Empire State building and the Flatiron building. The 9/11 memorial takes you through an emotional journey reminding you of the horrific event of September 11, 2001. An absolutely stunning museum!! The number of stories and artifacts they have here is incredible. The entrance is a haunting walk through voices recalling their loved ones and their experiences of the dooms day. If you are visiting this place, be prepared for an emotional roller coaster.
The Empire State building is another iconic landmark of NYC. The top gives you a beautiful 360-degree view of the city. However, it is a little pricey to go up there. Also, if you are planning to visit during the winter, make sure you are dressed up like a spaceman as a blast of cold wind will treat you when you get out on the terrace. The Flatiron building, on the other hand is an interesting piece of architecture. Everyone who passes by clicks a photo due to it’s odd shape – this is something that we have never seen before!! Definitely worth a visit!!
Our first stop on the next day was the Brooklyn Bridge. If you want a good view of lower Manhattan, this is the place to go. Easy to get to and it’s free!! This is a nice place to visit because you can enjoy the beautiful sensory around the park, sit on the grass or on the benches and get some fresh air.
We then went on and took the Staten Island ferry to get a glimpse of the once-wonder of the world – The Statue of Liberty. Well, we got nothing much to say here – it WAS a wonder and it IS even now.
We spent the last two days in New York visiting the New York aquarium, Cloisters museum and gardens, Brooklyn museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Asia Society and Museum and Fort Tryon. All attractions are worth visiting but the Cloisters in particular, grabbed our attention. The Cloisters is a beautiful place filled with history and colors. The art is mostly medieval/Roman Catholic/Christian. Every pillar, every archway, every corner was built to look like the medieval times. Architecture is amazing and admission is pay as you wish! Definitely worth the trek past Harlem.
And that concluded our NY trip. We visited 39 places and walked 55.7 miles over a span of 10 days and this was definitely one hell of a “trip to remember”!!
Food in New York City
NYC is a foodie wonderland where you can find any kind of food that you desire. However, the best food in NY is street food. There are innumerable food trucks scattered all over the city, which makes it so easy for hungry pedestrians to grab a bite for very reasonable prices. Chinese, Italian, American, Mediterranean, Indian – whatever you ask for, you got it !! If you are a person who prefers sitting inside a restaurant over street food, here is a list of NY’s 100 best restaurants that will never disappoint.
New York City Travel Tips
- The best way to commute is by trains and buses. You need to walk a lot too. Driving around the city would just be insane considering the horrible traffic and the expensive parking spots. If you are planning to visit a lot of places, get a daily or weekly pass at the MTA. The routes can be pretty confusing at first but you will get used to them after hopping on and off a couple of buses and trains.
- Saving Money – We spent approximately 550$ / person for the entire trip and this included our flight expenses too. You would spend most of your money in NY on stay, food and entrance fees. Stay at the cheapest places possible (like a hostel or a cheap AirBNB). If you are not a fan of ambience, street food is the best and cheapest option. And entrance fees – most of the places in NY accept “pay by donation” on certain days at specific times. Plan out your trip in such a way that you are at the right place at the right time. For more trips on saving money, read our blog post on Budget Travel.
- While traveling in New York city, try to carry a back pack with some snacks, a water bottle, a portable charger for your phone (it is highly possible that your phone may run out of battery as you would be navigating a lot) and a wallet with some cash (you would have to pay by cash for street food)
- Make plans for every day of your trip while at home. The latest time to plan is at night before the next day.
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