I grew up watching “Home Alone”, “you’ve got mail”, “the avengers”, “The Godfather”, and Spiderman, and so on and so on. And they are all either shot in new York, or has a story setting at New York, or both. So, I had been wanting to visit NYC, or at least it had been always on my mind visiting it. That year, me and my friend impulsively said to each other: “ Let’s spend New Year in Time Square in NYC!”, and we both screamed excitedly on the idea and booked the ticket immediately afterward.
I remember it was September 2016 when we booked the ticket, and then when we tried booking hotel near the times square, all of them had been sold out, though it was 3 months in advance. However, our planning continued and on December 28th we departed to New York. We spent good 10 days in New York City. It was during the holiday season, so you can imagine all places are packed. It was one of my memorable trip nevertheless, so i want to share my Top 10 experience to have in New York City. I love that some of these experience not just fulfilled my NY wish list, but also my “lifetime” List.
Table of Contents
10. Visiting the Oculus
I am conflicted to decide whether It’s Central Park, The Oculus, or New York Public Library that makes the top-10 list. However, it’s the oculus that gives unique experience and perspective during my trip to New York. The Oculus is just 6 minutes away from 9/11 Memorial and Museum, lays this spaceship-like building. It’s hard to miss this peculiar building.
The oculus is actually the World Trade Center Terminal Station within World Trade Center complex. Westfield World Trade Center Mall also occupies this buildings. Oculus has access points toward buildings in the complex. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the peculiar shape give contrast not only in the World Trade Center complex but also in Manhattan. As an architecture lover, visiting The Oculus gave me chills. I love its arches and grand main concourse designs.
9. 9/11 Memorial & Museum& One World Observatory
The 9/11 Memorial honours 3000 people who were killed in the September 11th 2001 World Trade Centre attack and February 26th 1993 bombing, and recognized those who survived the attack and risk their lives to help others. The 9/11 Museum visualizes the events before the attack, aftermath of the attack, the history, and display the remnants of what used to be World Trade Center. The Museum’s core exhibitions are located inside the footprints of the North and South Towers. The broken firetruck, newspaper clip, subway tickets are among artifacts recovered from the ground zero. In total, there are around 70,000 artifacts that documents the fate of victims, survivors, and the responders.(source: 9/11 museum)
To me, who lives outside US, the museum helped me understand the situations and the impact caused by the horrible terror attacks. It also inspired me to see those who survived, the heroic efforts by the firefighters, policemen, and all the volunteers.
The 9/11 museum opens Thursday and Friday from 12 to 7 p.m., and Saturday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.
Right next to 9/11 Memorial and Museum is the One WTC building. The 104 stories building opens at 2014, and on it’s 102th floor lies One World Observatory, the 360 degree view of New York landscapes. The observatory is located on 100th, 101st, and 102nd floor. The entrance ticket is 38 USD.
These are few pictures of Manhattan skyline taken from 360 degree viewing deck in One World Observatory.
8. Visiting The Liberty Statue at Liberty Island
Liberty copper Statue is a gift from France to United States on 1886. The French sculptor is Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The Statue arrives in New York Harbor, onboard the French frigate Isère 1885. It was a gift of commemoration of US Declaration of Independence Day in 1776. On the right hand of the statue is a torch, and on its left hand is tablet (Tabula ansata) inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (4th of July 1776 in Roman numerals). The statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, seen as a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving by sea. It is UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Source: Wikipedia)
Statue Liberty National Monument perhaps is the most famous landmarks in New York City. Its location in Liberty island makes the experience more exciting. The cruise and access to Liberty island are sold in package. The basic package (Reserve Ticket) costs USD 19,25 as per November 2020, The basic package and access to the Crown and pedestal of the Statue of Liberty also costs USD 22.25. The ticket includes Round trip ferry services, Ellis Island Immigration Museum, Statue of Liberty Ground and Audio Tour.
I bought the Crown ticket as we curious how was the view from the Crown of Liberty statue. However, I was a bit disappointed as the area was very narrow and the visibility towards the area was not good.
7. New York Grand Central Terminal
So many films were shot at Grand Central Terminal such as Men in Black, Friends with Benefit, even BTS performed at Grand Central Terminal. So yes, there’s no way I could leave New York without seeing it myself.
New York Grand Central Terminal was built at 1903 and finished and opened at 1913. It is located at 42nd street and Park Avenue at Manhattan. The location in which all films were filmed is at the main concourse. At the lower level concourse, there are food hall and stores. Apple store also has its shop here.
6. DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Brooklyn Bridge was built at 1883 and one of the oldest suspension bridge in United States. This bridge connects Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is the area on the end of the Brooklyn Bridge at Brooklyn Side.
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade provides the best view of New York famous bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge with the backgrounds of Manhattan beautiful skyscrapers and Hudson River. Though the area seems smalls, it may takes up a full day to really enjoy and grasps the Big Apple. You can also enjoy the Manhattan skyscraper from different viewpoints from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1,2,3,5, and 6. We spent the afternoon at Empire Fulton Ferry Park where we stand literally under the Bridge. The view was just amazing.
Our journey started at the end of Atlantic Avenue, continued to Furman Street and turn right to Plymouth street, Water street, and Front street. After visiting Empire Fulton Ferry Park, we stopped by the famous lookout of the Manhattan Bridge at the Washington Street. This provides the view of Manhattan bridge flanked by buildings. The surrounding buildings are probably apartments and both side of the streets were parked cars. Tourists flooded the street in order to get this view, and oftentimes met with the traffic. So, if you want to visit this lookout point, please be mindful with local resident and vehicle traffic in the neighbourhood. Manhattan suspension Bridge was built at 1909 and connecting lower Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn.
5. Explore the High Line and Chelsea Market
High line is the definition of the park in the sky. Located in the west part of Manhattan, this public park was built on historic, elevated rail line. This 2,3 km long elevated park starts from Gansevoort Street to West 30th street (runs north-south). The access to this “high park” available at 14th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 26th, 28th, and 30th streets (stairs only), and at Gansevoort street, 14th, 23rd, and 30th streets (by elevators and those with mobility access needs). However, during COVID-19 pandemic, the entry to this park is only available at the corner of Gansevoort Street and Washington Street, or at 23rd Street, and move northward. The other passage points are for exit only since visitation number is limited and monitored to avoid mass gatherings.
if you have a short amount of time in New York and want to enjoy the view of its high rise buildings, parks, and emerge to its landscape, then The High line is the answer. By walking along this park from end to end, you will see New York’s old and new buildings rise from the ground, up close and personal. Passing building and art exhibitions (Yes, this park has features of contemporary art works which are displayed along the way). It also has several viewing points that allows non-obstructed view of the New York avenues and streets, buildings, and street activities.
However, a great day-out is not complete without delicious meals. We got down at west 16th street and got into Chelsea Market to Have Lunch. Chelsea market is within a building that occupies the entire block between 9th and 10th avenues and 15th and 16th streets. If you want to have a short New York Food Travel, Chelsea Market is the answer. With so many food vendors and stall, you have Asians, Mediterranean, European endless food options within buildings. We love this place so much we visited it twice during our 10-days stay in New York.
4. Visiting Christmas Market at Bryant Park
Though it’s Christmas specific, Bryant Park is beautiful on a regular day. However, during the Christmas period it’s more magical at night. With the Christmas market, skating ring, Giant Christmas tree, all ingredients to make a place special and magical.
We were actually passing the park when noticing that there were market stalls on the Park. While starving and feeling cold, we walked and saw rows of food stalls on the park we immediately drawn to the park, then to the Christmas tree, and suddenly we forgot that we were starving. We walked around the park until we couldn’t hold it anymore and find this delicious food stall and tried its food. It was mixed between South East Asian food and Mexican, it’s Coney Shack and it’s rice bowl was super yummy. And then we moved to try Waffle at Waffles and Dinges’s stall.
3. Explore Guggenheim Museum
I love museum, and I love contemporary art Museum, especially those housed in a beautiful architecture. Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, or shortly named Guggenheim museum is located at Fifth Avenue. Quoting from its Website, it “collects, preserves, and interprets modern and contemporary art, and explores ideas across cultures through dynamic curatorial and educational initiatives and collaborations”. Guggenheim Museum are also available in Bilbao, Abu Dhabi, and Venice.
The New York Guggenheim was built at 1939. During that time, the design drew critics that says the design will overshadow the exhibitions in the museum, to what the architect reply that the building and the painting will form beautiful symphony.
To me personally, the first thing I love is the architecture of the Museum. It’s spiral dome is UFO like and gives you unique point of view in every point at the circular walkway, and at every level. It gives the sense of new hope, new era, and alien at the same time. The painting exhibition, I forgot on what level it was, portrayed minimalism and abstract on a large space. It gave me eerie and breezy tone in the museum.
If a building can give you particular sense of awe, mistery, and happiness, It’s Guggenheim. And I count if as one of the best thing to do in NYC. The entrance ticket costs USD 25 and the ticket can be purchased online. It Opens from Thursday to Monday from 11 am to 6 pm.
2. Celebrate New Year in Time Square
I hate being squeezed in the crowd. I have only been to a concert in my life once, and it was a local band with relatively small to moderate concertgoers. It was unlike those concert you see on the movie for international artiste. I also don’t normally celebrate New Year. Every new year night, I usually watch TV or sleeping like tomorrow is just another day. To me personally, I had never celebrated New Year ceremoniously, until that day in New York. That year, I just wanted to celebrate New Year, in Time Square New York. Talking about impulsiveness!!
So we began to search anything about spending New Year in Time Square, the best spots, the best time to enter the 42th street, what things to bring, and so on. On the D-day, we stood there freezing, squeezed among probably with other thousands of people, for straight six hours, until we gave up 3 hours before the ball drop. We did watch the fireworks from under Brooklyn bridge looking up to Liberty Statue, where the fireworks were lit. The experience taught me that positive and happy energy in mass could make you stand for 6 hours in minus degree without wanting to take a pee. I will write more about Spending New Year in Timesquare on separate posts.
Tips: you. Should. Never. Do this. I. warn. Ya. But still, it’s one of the best experience ever. Dress accordingly and properly to the weather, and bring LOTS of snack YOU MUST, but drink VERY LITTLE. The earlier you come to 42th street, the better spot you can get. I went there at 3 pm, but I believe you can go there as early as 12 pm to secure best spot (near the main stage).
Info: This year with Covid-19 situation, you can watch the virtual balldrop through its website. The committee has posted its announcement about the virtual event here.
1. Watching Broadway show
Watching broadway show has to be the top of my list, since a lot of energy transferred from the stage is unlike any other experiences. Initially, we wanted to watch Hamilton, but it sold out quickly and the remaining seats were out of our budget. And since it was high season, we took what we could get and we finally chose to watch Wicked at Gershwin Theatre. My friend bought it for us at ticketmaster for 152 USD per person. And we got front mezzanine seat. Mezzanine is the upper seating. Every theatre has different seating, to know more about Gershwin Teatre seating please read here.
Watching Broadway show is probably the one of the best experience ever (after cruising Antarctica and skydiving!). The amount of energies that were propagated from the stage was phenomenon! The stage effects, the sounds, the decoration, and the emotions that were transmitted from the actors were just spectacular. One shall experience it to understand it 😉
Tips: bring binoculars would help if you seated quite far from the stage. Empty your bladder in advance, since you don’t want to miss a beat from the stage. Last but not least, buying in advance (more than 3 months) will probably help in price and seat selections. Although, for popular show you need more months in advance to acquire the ticket.
I believe ten things is the very minimum you have to experience in New York. To me, though i spent 10 days in New York, i felt like it was far from enough. We visited three to four places in one day and went to many places that i thought was probably too many. However, when it comes to New York City, too many is never enough.
