So here is my journey to NYC and it was spectacular. I was travelling there during Christmas and it was absolutely surreal. NYC comprises of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and The Bronx all of which have their own marvels to lookout for when you're there; though trust me majority of your time will be spent on Manhattan, the main island. Manhattan is like a happy dream during Christmas with the most exquisite decor and vibe. Every part of your being wants to enjoy the festive spirit with the locals.
To actually enjoy it like a local you need to keep a few basics in mind-
1. Ensure you keep warm (especially if you're there during holiday season)- You do not want to wear fancy skimpy outfits for your photographs but die of cold within. You will only be able to enjoy properly if you're layered well; get inner thermal body suits, boots with fleece lining to keep your feet snug, down jackets , gloves and a cap or ear muffs to protect your ears.
2. Walk around the city- Walking is key to enjoy the culture of the city and Manhattan is absolutely amazing to walk. Just avoid the office timings and keep the pace, there is so much you will notice about neighborhoods, buildings, streets art etc.
3. Take the NY subway- Ensure you travel a lot using the subway/metro. Now the subway is definitely rickety and infamously smelly and dirty but it's how the locals get around and its cheap, for $2.75 you can get around the city easily. Might take a while to figure it out since it's very easy to understand it and neither do they have a lot of people of big signboards of the map explaining it but once you've figured it out. Enjoy it!
4. Get City Pass- Make sure you book this pass with all your favorite landmark destinations. It's much cheaper than buying tickets to individual places and can be easily stored in your mobile.
Now I am about to tell you about my itinerary during Xmas-
Day 01- Statue of Liberty , Ellis Island and Grand Central Terminal
Statue Cruises- Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park - Liberty Island, New York
So we landed the night before and the first day was a little sunny so we decided to head out to see the grand Lady Liberty and the iconic Ellis Island. We headed out quite early which is what I would recommend too since these two places will take up almost half the day easily. The queue is going to be long if you're there during holiday season but be rest assured it will keep moving. Some people will come over to ask you for your tickets and tell you they have personal ferry and all but do not fall for that because they will only take you around the island on a boat but not on the island. That the statue ferry is called Statue Cruises which runs every half an hour or so you can but the ferry tickets from Battery Park which includes Ellis Island also within the same ticket and the ferry leaves from there itself.
Once you reach the ferry terminal there will be proper checking/scanning of your items like a airport security check. Once on the boat, cold or not I would recommend you stand on the top of the boat unless raining. The view is amazing of both the Manhattan skyline as well as of the approaching statue. There are sea gulls all soaring alongside but do mind they do tend to poop at times.
Enjoy the magnificent statue gifted by the French, for she has stood witness to quite a few events that America has witnessed.
Towering at over 150 feet the copper statue of Libertas (Roman Goddess of Liberty) is an iconic US landmark. Depicting freedom, this beautiful sculpture makes one ponder over a multitude of questions about the great American Dream that the world knows of.
There are specific tickets for going up to the Crown of the statue but to be honest the view of Manhattan from below was equally good. The area has several mobile guided tours which you can pick up and drop off before you head out of the island.
The island also has tons of places to sit and enjoy the scenic beauty but we quickly headed off for the next ferry to Ellis Island.
Ellis Island again has great historic importance for that is where the immigration of millions who came to live in America from 1890's to 1950's took place. Now converted into a museum marking all the important phases that took place during immigration then. It's an interesting view on how the country evolved and grew.
So once done with that we had lunch and walked around a lot which you must to enjoy all the amazing Christmas decor on the streets and in front of the houses. Stop over in some small cafe and get yourself a hot chocolate in between as you walk to warm yourself up.
In the evening we made our way to Grand Central Terminal using the subway which to be honest is a little confusing and not very tourist friendly but ask around and you should be okay. Not the best looking ride but definitely worth the money.
Grand Central Terminal- 89 E 42nd St, New York
Bustling at any point in time during the day this iconic transportation landmark saw it's rebirth in 1913. Situated in mid Manhattan this place resonates rich history through it's walls, architecture and the general feel.
Grand Central Terminal is packed with tourists exploring the numerous passages, this place also houses excellent eating joints and plethora to satiate those with shopping on their mind. The most eye catching is the opal four faced clock right in the center, clearing making it into everyone's picture. The entire hall and stairways have hue of gold which transports one to this beautiful yesteryear charm. Walk around, visit the shops walk through the terminals and make sure your go down to the food court one level below which has a number of joints and restaurants from all over the world.
Day 02- 9/11 Tribute Memorial and World Trade Center, Empire State Building
9/11 Tribute Memorial and WTC- 180 Greenwich St, New York
9/11 Museum- 92 Greenwich St, New York
Next morning was as cold as the previous one, but luckily sunny so we walked down to 9/11 Memorial site (Ground Zero) where 2 pools have been created where the twin towers once stood. The most apt homage to those who lost their lives to an act of cowardice which shook the whole world. Definite visit when in NYC, after which we made our way to 9/11 Museum. One cannot help but get stirred by the emotion and sentiment that the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives went through.
It would take you easily 2-3 hours to complete this if you cover it at a decent pace.
After that we headed out to mid Manhattan and walked around the streets on our way to the iconic pizza place Lombardis. Soak in all the cultural vibe of the place, the street art, the Christmas decor, stopping over for Xmas treats and mulled wine. NYC is truly amazing when you walk around and you never know what new things pop up on which corner.
Empire State Building- 20 W 34th St, New York
In the evening we headed off to Empire State Building to catch the sunset and it was gorgeous. The wind was absolutely crazy that high up and it was quite chilly but the view of the setting sun over NYC was absolutely fantastic. Luckily we didn't have to wait to long in the line, there mostly is a kiosk or a separate line for those who have city passes to collect their tickets which was quite helpful.
Day 03- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square and Rockefeller Center
The Met- 1000 5th Ave, New York
I was super excited for going to the Met and because I knew we would have a lot to cover we decided to head out quite early. Had the American breakfast at cafe nearby and went straight to the Met. The Met would easily take you half the day but you still won't be able to finish it all. Once you enter the Met get a map from the main lobby area and choose the sections you want to see- cover those first and then pick the rest.
Most of the day was spent here in the Met and we only got out by evening.
Times Square- 7th Avenue, boundaries along 42nd & 47th Streets, Manhattan, New York
Rockefeller Center- 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
After this we made our way to Times Square, where the amount of glare that hits your eyes is insane. Some people love this place while some don't. I had mixed feelings but I don't think both of us never were the bright lights in your face kind of people. So we quick did our quota of photos and made our way to Rockefeller Center through the inner more quiet lanes.
The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is a true spectacle and usually is gifted to the place. The decor around the area is also breathtakingly beautiful. Sadly, if you plan to skate in the rink trust me it's not really worth it. Firstly the cost is exorbitant and then the amount of time you need to wait in line is crazy. We decided to enjoy watching those skating and appreciate it from far away. Walk around the area and get absolutely amazed by the level of intricate decor done by shops in the area. The creative flair is at another level during this time of the season. We finally retired to the hotel quite late that night.
Day 04- NYSE and Brooklyn Bridge
New York Stock Exchange- 11 Wall Street, New York
Brooklyn Bridge- Brooklyn Bridge, New York
We ventured out around mid-day and on our way to brunch we stopped over at NYSE. A statue of small girl stood right in front of the building had a lot of tourists flocked around her.
Since most of the office areas were closed it was easy to get a few pictures and we moved onto brunch and a walk in the nearby parks.
En route to Brooklyn Bridge we walked along multiple grounds and areas which reflected a more calmer appeal compared to the bustling mid- Manhattan area. Since the day was cold yet sunny the walk was quite nice and we continued on until we reached the subway. So we had decided to take the subway to Brooklyn and walk back from there to Manhattan.
We reached the start of the climb to Brooklyn Bridge after quite a walk stopping in between for mugs of hot chocolate or coffee or a few shots at the area near the bride to get a good panoramic view while enjoying the crisp winter day. The walk across Brooklyn Bridge was equally good and the day was damn clear. We took our time to cross the bridge as we wanted to capture the sunset from the bridge itself.
It was surreal and as silly as crossing a bridge may sound it makes your mind calm and ponders thoughts of how far one has come. We are always truly thankful for these amazing experiences.
The evening was mostly spent in resting and then we had dinner at a Michelin star restaurant Junoon. One must try this place for this was definitely one of the finest Indian meals that I have tasted in a while.
Day 05- Top of the Rock and Central Park
Today was one of the finest days of my NY trip. Since this was our penultimate day in NYC we wanted to relax and head out a little late. Today my love of open, green parks was going to come true. We had Central Park on the agenda today :) But before that we had our first pit stop at Top of the Rock.
Top of the Rock- 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
It was generally a clear day with decent winter sun looming above us so we really enjoyed our visit to the top. Getting the entry ticket was not a big issue and was quite smooth as we were given time slots to ensure that not too much of a crowd goes up. Once we were up on the 70th floor with a staggering view to the Empire state building and Chrysler and the rest of the city it was absolutely amazing.
Since we were lucky to be there on a clear day the pictures came out quite well too. Ensure your go all the way up to all the 3 tiers of the observation deck. It is worth braving the cold completely!
Next we got something to eat from the food carts which is also something that you must do since the quality and variety of food is quite good. The food scene for NYC is quite amazing and is growing each year. The fusion of food from different countries makes the culinary journey even more amazing. But I will cover all this in a separate blog post, let me not digress a lot.
Central Park- Central Park, Manhattan, New York
If truly there is a gateway to heaven, I sure hope it is thorough a great patch of green lush trees, wildlife and lakes. Central park was the highlight of my NYC trip for I haven't before this laid my eyes on such a sprawling park in the middle of such concrete. If NYC was human, then Central Park was definitely it's lungs. The park had the most beautiful landscape I had seen in along time and I made a earnest vow that no matter how many times I come to NYC,I will try my best to spend sometime here.
Get a coffee and a sandwich and walk around absorbing the different colors of nature. We walked up to the skating rink and admired it against the towering backdrop of New York's most expensive real estate. Then we made our way in and walked along the lakes, sat and ate our sandwiches and made a picnic out of it. It was absolutely great.
It was as if the park has been painted in autumn colors with hues of maroon, orange, yellow, red. Make sure you spend time here if you're a nature lover. There is a lot to see, some fields and a castle. Do stop by the souvenir shop to get something nice to remind you of your visit here.
NYC may seem to fast to some, may seem uncouth to some or may seem over hyped to some. But NYC has an energy that leaves you charged up totally wanting to delve in deeper and explore it one step further. It's a mash of cultures and perspectives all that believe in something strong and true. You may find yourself getting lost but the NYC experience leaves your richer. It is this amalgamation of mindset that set NY apart from so many major cosmopolitan cities in the world.
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