18th October 2016: Earlier this year, I enjoyed a 4-day break to my favourite city of all time, New York. A week prior, it was -17°C and Times Square was a total wipe out due to the heavy snow, so I was feeling incredibly lucky that my trip could go ahead, and decided to make the most of it! Here are my top tips for discovering New York.
Transport
This was my third visit to New York, and each time there is so much to see, do and explore, plus it's any shopper’s paradise! I have always made use of the hop on/off bus ticket, as it takes you straight to all the major sights. The tour guides on board are all so knowledgeable, that you learn something new each time you hop on! It also gives you the chance to see so much in a short space of time, even if you decide you want to stay on the bus for the whole tour.
This time around, I also used the subway, which is a great way to get around if you are a little more stuck for time. It's quick and easy to use, as well as being very reasonable in price, which is always a bonus. This time we did all the major sights again, including the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Top of the Rock, Grand Central Station, Central Park, plus the subway was an experience of its own. We also visited Ground Zero, which is still the most moving place that I have ever come across, to date.
Explore on Foot
One thing I would strongly recommend while in New York is venturing off on foot. There’s nothing quite like walking the busy streets, trying not to bump into people, in the chaos of Times Square. It’s the perfect way to experience the sights, smells and sounds of this iconic city, and to feel like you’re a part of it. We loved wondering around this city, discovering new places we’d never seen before, and it is just so easy to walk from one sight to another.
From our hotel in Times Square, we walked to pretty much all the major attractions, but wandering down 5th Avenue, towards Central Park, is always a highlight for me. Popping into Louis Vutton, Mickael Kors and Dior, before reaching Central Park, where we enjoyed a horse drawn carriage (a must for me being a horse lover).
Helicopter Experience
On our last day, we wanted to do something special, so we booked a helicopter trip. The weather hadn’t been great during our stay, so we were not entirely sure if this would go ahead. We woke up bright and early to a beautiful crisp morning, pure blue sky and not a cloud in sight, perfect weather for a helicopter trip around the Big Apple.
There’s nothing quite like seeing this amazing city from the air, and this trip offered breath-taking views of New York’s most iconic landmarks. It really was the perfect way to end our trip, and something I’ll never forget.
I have lots of handy tips for New York City, so please feel free to pop in or give me a call and I’ll let you know why it's my favourite city of all.
Meg Gardiner, Travel Specialist
