I have to confess that New York would have to be one of my most favourite cities in the world, and I’m sure many would agree with me. Known as the ‘city that never sleeps’, I guarantee that your visit to New York will be an unforgettable and exciting experience. When you’re in New York, you feel as if you are in the centre of all things new and exciting, and you’ll be enthralled by the bright lights, amazing atmosphere and fast pace.
There are numerous attractions to explore – the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, the Ground Zero site, Rockefeller Center and Brooklyn Bridge to name a few. A walk through Central Park will be a highlight – 800 acres of walks, lakes and spectacular views, right in the heart of the city, or journey through by horse and trap so that you can take it all in. Cruise around Manhattan Island and explore Greenwich Village, a charming area with interesting shops, cafes and jazz clubs. Soho is another ‘trendy’ area, filled with restaurants and shops.
Check out Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, Madison Square Garden’s and Grand Central Station. New York is an easy city to navigate as the subway is fantastic, but much can also be explored on foot which gives you the chance to really soak up the atmosphere and immerse yourself in this fantastic city.
The ladies will love to do a ‘Sex in the City Tour’ so that they can ‘shop till they drop’ and visit some of the locations used in the movies. The shopping is amazing in New York… definitely time to shop, shop, shop girls; it’s all there and at fabulous prices with the current exchange rates!
Finish the day with dinner in one of the great restaurants followed by a Broadway Show. There are lots of shows and theatre performances to choose from every night and all of the latest productions and well known favourites run constantly, such as Mamma Mia, Chicago, The Lion King, and Cats etc. The hardest decision will be what you want to see!
There are lovely hotels and apartments located in the heart of town and within easy access to subway stations so you can experience life as a ‘New Yorker’. I love the Hotel Beacon, it’s in a fantastic location, less than a block to walk to the subway (three stops from Times Square) and directly across the road is an amazing deli supermarket, so that you can take home your brown paper bag and cook up a storm if you wish. It’s out of the hustle and bustle, but with fantastic facilities and in a great neighbourhood.
And when you are wandering the streets, don’t forget to try a hot dog or a pretzel from one of the street corner hot dog stands; it’s all part of the experience!
If you’ve got time to spare, why not take a day tour to Niagara Falls by helicopter or journey to nearby Washington by rail – both can be done as a day trip and will enable you to see more of the fantastic East Coast. And did I mention the shopping??!!
New York is an amazing city and definitely worth a visit. A trip to the ‘Big Apple’ is another one of those bucket list items that you need to check off and it’s just the beginning as there is so much to see and do along the whole of the East Coast of America.