As the final boarding call for passengers traveling on QF11 bound for New York was announced, I couldn’t help but think of this scene from one of my favourite movies…
I roared my way onto the plane as native baboons cheered me on, and before my daydream ended I was well on my way to the Empire State, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
Welcome to New York. These words filled my ears from my carefully pre-prepared ‘New York’ playlist as the bus from Newark Airport brought me closer and closer to the glow of lights (“bright lights, big city”) illuminating the Manhattan skyline that defines New York City.
We rolled on in through Times Square, it was dawn, and the scattered remnants from last nights festivities filled my heart with excitement of the adventures yet to be had. I couldn’t wait to get my feet on the ground and explore this wonderful city. And much ground I did cover! Here’s a quick look:
THE LOW DOWN:
There is so much to do in NYC and three days was not enough. You could spend forever there. It’s just not possible to experience it all in a short amount of time. But here are my top picks for quick stops in NYC.
MUST SEE:
Top of the Rock
Amazing view that rivals the Empire State Building, with a 360 degree view that actually includes the iconic Empire State Building, and Central Park, worth the $32.
BEST FREEBIE:
Staten Island Ferry
A great way to see the statue of Liberty and Manhattan from the water. It doesn’t get as close to Ellis Island as paid cruises, but It’s free! Need I say more. I recommend checking out the FAQs on the Staten Island Ferry website for the best way to do it.
View of Manhattan from the State Island Ferry
BEST BITE:
New York has a ton of amazing food places, so its hard to pick one, but my favourite is Lukes Lobster. A tad expensive, but it is lobster. OH SO DELICIOUS. I rode my bike over the Brooklyn bridge, and wandered on into this place, which is located just underneath the bridge on the DUMBO side.
FOR SUNSET COCKTAILS:
Pod 39 Rooftop Bar
My absolute favourite place in NYC. As soon as I hit that rooftop, I really felt like I was IN NYC, rather than a just a tourist looking in from the outside. This place is magical. Along with their cocktails.
GETTING AROUND:
I signed up for one of these bad boys from citibike and covered a LOT of ground. You can grab a bike in the East Village and leave it in Brooklyn if that’s what you wanna do, total freedom! I paid for 24 hours which cost me $12. That gives you unlimited 30 minute rides within the 24 hours. Unfortunately that just means that after 30 mins they start charging you $4 per extra 15 mins. So they are great for getting you from A to B, but make sure you know where the next drop off station is – I found that out the hard way :/
When I wasn’t using the citibike, I caught the subway, which is a rite of passage if you are visiting NYC.
IMAGE CREDIT: Buck Ennis
Riding across Brooklyn Bridge
So much to do, so little time. That’s why I’m heading back again this year!
Stay tuned for NYC 2.0…
Welcome to New York As the final boarding call for passengers traveling on QF11 bound for New York was announced, I couldn't help but think of this scene from one of my favourite movies...
