Touristy Things — Part One
There are a bunch of tourist passes available for NYC, so I did some research before deciding on a 7-attraction Explorer Pass from Smart Destinations. It was the most bang-for-buck option for the attractions we wanted to visit. The other options for the tourist passes are mostly restrictive in terms of the packaged attractions, or are daily passes, which chalk up a higher prices.
Our itinerary around Lower Manhattan and Upper East/ West Side:
Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus New York: 2-Day Classic Tour
All around Manhattan — check map for nearest stop
Used the Explorer Pass
The ticket is valid for 2 days. We took the topless bus about 5-6 times and got on the upper deck most of the time, unless it was too hot or the top deck too full.Â
The guides were pretty entertaining and we learnt quite a lot about New York’s history through the audio tours. It was fun to take the bus around the city without dropping off. We also used the bus to get us to certain places like Lower Manhattan.Â
However, the routes go in one way, and sometimes the buses are filled so you can’t board. The services also end at 5pm.
World Trade Centre (PATH) Station — The Oculus
70 Vesey Street, Lower Manhattan
Free admission — it’s a train station
A gorgeous architectural marvel that is a must-see. Perfect for taking all those geometrical, white-space-aplenty images.Â
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
180 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan
Free admission for the Memorial
It’s quite an experience standing in front of the memorial and hearing the water gushing into the void where the towers once stood. Four years ago when I was there, the memorial was cordoned off and only admissible via issued tickets. It’s totally open now, with people streaming in and out, so it is not as solemn and quiet as before.
The 9/11 memorial places roses upon victims’ names on their birthdates, which I thought was a beautiful gesture. We didn’t visit the museum as the queue was awfully long, and my mum was getting quite emotional.
One World Trade Centre
285 Fulton Street, Lower Manhattan
Free to enjoy the facade
Cool new building! The glass facade is really pretty.
My mum and I actually accidentally snuck into the office side of the building and the guards chased us out. There’s an observatory on the top deck but we didn’t go in.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry
Battery State Park, Lower Manhattan
Used the Explorer Pass
The queue was too long, and the weather too hot — it was a torturous 45 minute wait in the sun. They were pretty strict with security (bag checks and all) so it took a while to clear everyone.
We actually didn’t get off the ferry, neither at Liberty Island nor Ellis Island (the immigration museum). The weather was too hot and we didn’t want to queue for the ferries back. The most important thing was that we managed to take some selfies with Miss Liberty!Â
Wall Street
Wall Street, Lower Manhattan
Grab the bull by its balls!Â
Basically that’s all we did there.
Chinatown
Chinatown, Lower Manhattan
Chinatown is unavoidable especially if you’re Chinese, and travelling with your parents. My parents had been craving for so much Chinese cuisine that we ended up eating in Chinatown a few times during the trip.
Chinatown is pretty dirty and chaotic, and we were surprised how many of the elderly folk could not communicate in English. While buying some (super fresh and sweet) peaches from a fruit store, my mum talked to the seller who was lamenting in Cantonese about how life was tough in the States, and that we were really fortunate to be able to live in Singapore.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Ave, Upper East Side
Used the Explorer Pass
Gorgeous architecture with a unique continuous spiral ramp linking the top floor all the way to the bottom. The exhibit ongoing was Moholy-Nagy (*flashbacks to Graphic Design History classes*). It’s heartwarming to see young kids having field trips, learning to appreciate modern art. My sister was really excited as she had worked on a project about the building before, while my parents were visibly bored (I was a little too).
Always good to visit museums. Lots of cool souvenirs.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West & 79th St, Upper West Side
Used the Explorer Pass
My second time at the AMNH and I can now safely say that it’s my favourite museum anywhere in the world! It’s fun recognising exhibits featured in the Night at the Museum movies, and the taxidermied animals were also hauntingly beautiful and educational.
And I’m hopelessly in love with the Giant Blue Whale Model. Everytime I enter the exhibit, I’m just washed over by this overwhelming sense of serenity and calm.
