NYC provides an endless list of things see and do, top highlights include - the infamous Times Square full of bright lights. Meeting the lady of freedom - the Statue of Liberty. Ascending great heights to stand at the ‘The Top of the Rock’ at the Rockefeller Centre. Lest we forget - the 9/11 memorial. Pacing the length of the Brooklyn Bridge. Soaking in the upbeat vibes of Madison Square Gardens. Getting lost in the gorgeous green fields of Central Park or immersed in the brilliant performances of Broadway theatre, as well as dining at the many delectable eateries and shopping til-you-drop. Whatever your zest is for adventure, NYC offers a wealth of sights to explore, a city catered for every person with any taste - all you need is time.
The month of December sees NYC energised and dusted with a dose of Christmas spirit. Bringing about all the fun festivities - Christmas markets, department store windows decked for the holiday season, over-sized Christmas ornaments and light decorated trees, that adorn the streets, making the city a joyous wonderland in the chill of Winter.
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| Manhattan skyline |
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| Central Park |
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| Christmas decorations in NYC |
GETTING AROUND
As a first-timer in the vast concrete jungle, the 'City Sightseeing Tour’ bus is a great way for getting your bearings. The tour offers a few different routes that includes Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. As well as a live-tour guide and stops at all the major sights, for you to get on and off as you please. Those selling tickets for this tour can be found wandering Times Square, otherwise tickets can be purchased on the bus at one of the designated stops, if you happen to stumble upon one - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/en/tours/united-states-of-america/new-york.htm
Riding the subway is easy enough to do, by purchasing a one time travel card and topping it up as you go. The NYC subway is not the most attractive compared to others. You can expect the homeless to be taking a nap or buskers pulling beats on the train, trying to make a dollar. Other than that, the subway has a regular traffic of people and is quite safe to ride.
A useful app to download on to your phone is ‘HopStop.' Let this app do the work for you, it calculates the routes on different types of transport, just simply enter the desired destination. If you've chosen the taxi mode, the app will also display the estimated cost of travel - brilliant! This app requires internet, which shouldn't be a problem, because WiFi is available for free almost everywhere around NYC.
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| Subway |
TOP SIGHTS
There are many sights in NYC and many of them are located in Lower and Midtown Manhattan. For hotel accommodation, Midtown is most people's choice as it's pretty much where it all happens. Talking about happenings, it's always happening in Times Square.
Stumbling across it for the first time, the word likely roll from your lips will be 'wow,’ without you even realising. It's the screen of dreams, Times Square is saturated with grand LED screens of mammoth proportions, stacked on top of one another, featuring ads with bright flashing lights and music. Standing in the center of it all, feels like standing on a stage in the middle of a Broadway show and you're the star.
To see Times Square during the day is one thing, however to see it at night is another. It is a dazzling marvel. If you happen to stumble in front of a particular camera, at a certain time and place in Times Square, you may just be the star on one of the gigantic screens yourself - Times Square is a stage and everyone has their part.
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| Times Square by day |
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| Times Square by night |
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| Times Square cam |
Surrounding Times Square are the Broadway theatre shows. Getting yourself to a show while in NYC is a must, where many celebrities tend to perform. One show highly recommended, is 'Cabaret’ at the infamous 'Kit Kat Klub’ at Studio 54. Cabaret is an extraordinarily entertaining and whimsical show, starring the ever-so-talented Emma Stone and the brilliant Alan Cummings (Sienna Miller is to replace Emma Stone during later dates) - last show is to be at the end of March. If the dates of Cabaret don't align with your travels, check out other shows and have your Broadway theatre experience in NYC - http://www.broadway.com/
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| Broadway theatre |
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| Kit Kat Klub at Studio 54 |
Everyone who visits NYC wants to meet the lady herself - the Statue of Liberty, which for many represents freedom. 'Statue Cruises’ regularly departs from Battery Park, with stops to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time, online or on the day, at the port of departure. However, if you're also interested in walking around up in the mind of Liberty, Crown tickets may need to booked ahead of time, as these can be sold out days in advance.
Heading out over the waters you get a remarkable view of Manhattan behind, and in front the Statue of Liberty, increasing in size and strikingly beautiful with her drapes, spiked crown and torch in hand, standing tall at 93 metres. Liberty Island, without the additional Crown ticket doesn't provide much, besides the up close and personal view of the beautiful statue herself. However, still worth the visit to see one of the most famous statues, as well as the amazing skyline views of the surrounding boroughs.
From Liberty Island, the ferry then goes to Ellis Island. This is where many immigrants, beginning back in the late 1800's came for inspection, to obtain a pass to the American dream. With a museum to explore, headsets provided will give an informative guide of the Islands past, as you wander through the historic rooms - http://www.statuecruises.com/
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| Statue Cruises |
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| On the Statue Cruise with a view of the Statue of Liberty & Manhattan |
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| Statue of Liberty |
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| Ellis Island museum |
When it comes to getting panoramic views of NYC, the Empire State Building comes to mind. However to avoid the lengthy wait times at the Empire State Building, head to the 'Top of the Rock’ at the Rockefeller Centre. Here you will ascend 70 floors, for 360-degree views, from three different viewing platforms, both inside and out.
The landscapes of the concrete jungle from high above, at birds-eye view is superb. Especially in the North direction, overlooking the green space of Central Park. The great thing about viewing from the 'Top of the Rock,' is that you also get an outlook of the architecturally amazing Empire State Building too. Open daily from 8am until midnight, the 'Top of the Rock' will surely fit nicely into your schedule, whenever you have a spare hour - http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
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| View of Central Park from 'The Top of the Rock' at the Rockefeller Centre |
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| View of the Empire State Building from 'The Top of the Rock' at the Rockefeller Center |
A break from the towering heights of the concrete constructions, Central Park is a welcoming luscious recess of green. A park of colossal size, Central park is 3.41 km² and is just under 10km (6.1 miles), all the way around along the paths. A stroll around Central Park (South) is absolutely gorgeous, with horse-drawn carts and the city's protruding skyline in the background, you might even recognise certain areas from particular movies.
You may find that after a little while, walking in Central Park doesn't cover much ground, and you've only touched on a tiny piece of the great expanse. With designated paths, it's an accessible paradise for joggers and bikers, so hire yourself a bike and ride a loop around. The loop takes just over an hour, going at a nice steady pace, with a couple of quick stops. At certain points along the loop, it can feel like being in a spin class and hitting that pressure point of a steep climb - a great workout and also great fun! You can hire a bike at - 1710 Broadway (a few blocks from Central Park South) or they can deliver to your hotel if you're within a certain vicinity - http://www.centralpark.com/guide/tours/bike-rentals.htm
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| Central Park |
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| One of many Central Park ponds |
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| Central Park ice skating rink |
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| Riding on the bike path at Central Park |
If the workout at Central Park wasn't enough, head to the high granite towers and steel webbing cables, which makes Brooklyn Bridge. It's one of the oldest cable suspension bridges, spanning 1,825 metres over the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn together. If walking the entire length sounds daunting to you, stop at the first point, where plaques are displayed detailing the bridges history and details. You'll also get a good glimpse of both boroughs.
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| View of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge |
Known as Ground Zero - the 9/11 memorial was constructed to remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day. There are two constantly flowing reflective pools, with names of the deceased engraved into the surrounding plaques. The pools have been placed where the footprints of the two original twin towers once stood, prior to the tragedy.
There is a 9/11 museum and completed in 2014 - the One World Trade Centre. Also known as the 'Freedom Tower.' It stands above all other skyscrapers, being the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 546 metres high. If you find yourself in Lower Manhattan, be sure to stop by.
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| 9/11 Memorial |
If it's the season, get yourself to 'Madison Square Gardens,' the world's most famous arena, to watch an NBA basketball game. Even if you're not into sports, the atmosphere in this arena is exciting and electrifying. Order food and drinks from the comfort of your seat (try the criss-cross fries), enjoy the game and all the riveting entertainment that comes along with it - http://www.thegarden.com/
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| NBA Basketball game at Madison Square Gardens arena |
SHOPPING
NYC is a mecca for shopping, with stores located almost everywhere. The most popular streets for a shopping feast are located within Midtown, in and around 5th Avenue and parallel to it, on Madison Avenue. In and around these streets, you will find the major department stores and also the high street brand stores. Of all the department stores, Macy's is the largest, occupying an entire NYC block, with 11 floors covered in merchandise. This place can provide hours of shopping therapy. Macy's is an relic, being over 110 years old, which is evident from the vintage wooden escalators that still operate within the store today.
Hitting the stores in the month of December is a must (if you happen to be there), even if you're not a fashion-focused individual. It's hard to resist the urge to shop, especially when there are additional discounts applied to already reduced prices at many of the major department stores such as Macy's, Lord & Taylor and high-end stores - Bloomingdale’s, Barney's, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Get in amongst the crowded frenzy and bag yourself a bargain.
A department store, which has discounts all year round, on all the brands you can imagine is 'Century 21.’ The designer items are all authentic and come from previous seasons, therefore discounted at up to 65% off, everyday of the year. NYC is a shoppers haven - be sure to leave some room in your suitcase when packing for this trip!
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| The shopping frenzy inside Macy's department store |
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| Bloomingdale's department store |
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| Designer handbags at Century 21 |
WHERE TO EAT
The most important meal of the day is breakfast or brunch, depending on the time of rise and shine, after all it is a holiday! The first meal fuels your day and especially with all the walking to be done in NYC, you'll be needing a good kick start to your day.
Café Orlin (41 Saint Marks Place, New York, NY 10003) - http://www.cafeorlin.com/ - This café is situated in the quiet East Village neighbourhood. Café Orlin is a ripe, unpolished café, that has been around for around 34 years. A testament to the delicious food, churned out from the kitchen, day after day. American combined with Middle Eastern flavours, the two infused go quite good hand-in-hand. To spice up your morning try the Tunisian Eggs - two perfectly plumped poached eggs on a bed of sauteed spicy peppers and tomatoes, served with pita bead and home-fries.
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| Tunisian Eggs at Cafe Orlin |
Sarabeth's Restaurant (40 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019) - http://www.sarabethsrestaurants.com/central-park-south - This upscale restaurant is located right across from the beautiful views of Central Park South, particularly if you happen to land a table right by the window. The restaurant has a great breakfast/brunch menu, leaving you with endless choices. A popular venue, during both weekdays and weekends, you can expect to wait, otherwise book ahead of time to ensure your place.
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| Breakfast at Sarabeth's Restaurant in Central Park South |
Market Diner (572 11th Ave New York, NY 10036) - http://www.marketdinertogo.com/ - For an all American diner experience with orange booths, wooden interior and brisk hospitality, head to Market Diner. Plates come bursting at the rims, so you're going to get a lot of bang for your buck and the bonus is, the food is very satisfying.
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| Breakfast at Market Diner |
With plenty to see and do in NYC, a quick lunch might be in mind and there are plenty of places to grab a bite then run. There is nothing like a New York style pizza, the thin crust pizzas are hands down the best pizzas compared to anywhere in the world. Definitely the most crisp and crunch slice of heaven ever. The best thing is, these big single slices can be found all around NYC. Wash it down with a whole lot of goodness with 'Jamba Juice' smoothies or juices, freshly made, for the necessary boost of vitamins to keep on walking and exploring.
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| NYC big slice pizza is the best! |
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| Jamba Juice smoothie |
Tri Tip Grill (30 Rockefeller Center, Concourse Level, New York, NY 10112) - http://www.tritipgrill.com/ - Tri Tip Grill is a small place, located within the Rockefeller Center and draws a lot of customers. Especially with the flames firing up from the grills and the aromas of BBQ meats wafting the air. This is an ideal place for a hearty delicious lunch, you'll be surprised at how quick the meal is ready and how juicy and good it all tastes.
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| Tri Tip Grill |
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| Tri Tip Grill steak and salad |
If time is on your side and sitting down to give your feet some of that much loved rest is in order, a couple of amazing places not to miss, for either lunch or dinner is 'Eataly' and 'City Lobster & Steak.'
Eataly (200 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010) - http://www.eataly.com/nyc - This is an indoor marketplace with everything Italian you can imagine under one huge roof, it includes restaurants, fruits & vegetables, fresh seafood, butchered & cold cut meats, cheeses, freshly handmade pastas, coffee & desserts, as well as homeware, beauty, books and apparel - endless.
In total there are seven restaurants within Eataly, with only half of the restaurants taking advanced reservations, while the other half are on a 'first come first served' basis. The good thing about being in a marketplace, while your name and contact number is left on the waiting list, is that you can go browsing and wait for a call when your table is ready.
With the brightness of white walls and very high ceilings, the vibe in Eataly emanates with a lively and sociable atmosphere. A bustling and popular marketplace, amongst shoppers and diners alike, this is one place not to be missed if you're in NYC.
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| A delicious mozzarella dish from Manzo Restaurant within Eataly marketplace |
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| Fresh fruit and vegetables at Eataly marketplace |
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| Fresh seafood at Eataly marketplace |
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| Freshly hand-made pasta at Eataly marketplace |
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| Cheeses at Eataly marketplace |
City Lobster & Steak (121 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10020) - http://www.citylobster.com/ - Conveniently located in prime location between Times Square and the Rockefeller Center, this restaurant serves up delicious food from steaks to a mean seafood platter to curb any seafood cravings.
With two sections, you can dine in the restaurants table-seating area or casually relax at the bar & lounge, enjoying their happy hour special on drinks and 99 cent oyster offer - You'll be sure to leave full and satisfied.
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| Seafood platter from City Lobster & Steak Restaurant |
For the best Asian cuisines, there's no doubt on where to find it. Make your way to Chinatown (just outside Canal Street Station) for authentic Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai dishes, from a countless choice of restaurants to choose from.
For something sweet, Dragon Land Bakery (125 Walker Street, New York, NY 10013) makes a deliciously crunchy sesame ball with red bean - real good. Connected with Chinatown, on the other side of Canal Street is 'Little Italy,' with a street of Italian restaurants, pizzerias and cafes. Not quite as extensive as Chinatown, but worth the stroll and a gelato.
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| Fresh fruit & vegetables in Chinatown |
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| Sesame balls at Dragon Land Bakery in Chinatown |
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| Little Italy right next to Chinatown |
A huge craving of sweets can be curbed, by walking into the corner store of Dylan's Candy Bar (1011, 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10065). This place is a candy wonderland, a rainbow of sweet temptations, spread over three floors, with all the candy assortments you can imagine. Grab a bag and fill it up with your favourites - like a kid in a candy store - https://www.dylanscandybar.com/
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| Dylan's Candy Bar |
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EVENTS
The festive month of December sees the city streets embellished with giant Christmas trimmings and fairy lights, giving the city a burst of Christmas joy. A couple of Christmas markets to wander, while drinking a hot apple cider is the 'Columbus Circus Holiday Market' and 'Winter Village.'
The Columbus Circle market is the smaller of the two (but not the lesser) and is situated on the edge of the gorgeous Central Park South. This market offers food & drinks, jewellery, homes accessories, arts & crafts and much more, that make perfect for gifting (or a little something for yourself!).
Winter Village is set amongst the leafless trees of Bryant Park, with each stall set within a petite illuminating glasshouse. Store offerings are along the same lines as the Columbus Circle market, but with more choices and an ice rink in the heart of it all. Decked with fairy lights, a carousel and a tall lit Christmas tree, Bryant Park gives the warm fuzzy feel that Christmas does, in the wintry month of December.
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| Jewellery store at Columbus Circle Holiday Market |
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| Home accessories at Columbus Circle Holiday Market |
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| Stalls at Winter Village in Bryant Park |
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| Winter Village at Bryant Park |
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| Ice rink at Winter Village in Bryant Park |
If you're really into Christmas all the major department stores such as Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale’s, to name a few, brighten up their store windows with the jolly holiday season theme. Saks Fifth Avenue, in particular takes it a step further and offers a Christmas light show on the whole outer side of their building after sunset. Where hundreds of people stop in their tracks to watch the short festive display, that runs about every 7 minutes.
Across the street from Saks Fifth Avenue, following the trail of radiantly lit angels, down towards the end of the footpath, you'll come to the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The tree, so famous has its own event, where the lighting of the tree is nationally televised. A tree you must see, gorgeous and glorious in all its towering glory. There’s also an ice rink where the tree stands, but make sure you book ahead or be prepared to wait lengthy times, to skate on this popular piece of ice.
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| Macy's department store Christmas window decorations |
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| Lord & Taylor department store Christmas window display |
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| Rockefeller Christmas Tree |
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| Rockefeller Centre ice skating rink |
Every year the Rockettes, a precision dance company brings a show to the city called 'Radio City Christmas Spectacular.’ If you're in the city when this show is on, do yourself a favour and go see them. With amazing installations, that not only includes precision dancing, to the highest degree, but also 3D effects, huge, fun and colourful stage props, as well as a few other surprises, that truly makes the show spectacular, as the name exhibits and deserves.
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| Radio City Christmas Spectacular show starring the Rockettes |
If you still haven't felt the Christmas spirit, go for a drink at ‘Rolf's Bar’ located at - 281, 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10010. A place known for decorating the interior according to season, with December no exception. From tip to toe, Rolf's Bar is decked in an array of Christmas decorations, adorning every ceiling, wall and window space, showered with a large collection of baubles in all shapes, sizes and colour. Rolf's Bar has taken the holiday season to new heights, as it definitely feels festive to the brim in this bar.
A favoured venue for drinks, at this time of the year, don't be deterred by the massive number of people spilling out the doors, get yourself in there and make your way to the bar. If you don't feel the Christmas spirit here, you won't feel it anywhere.
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| Inside Rolf's Bar decked with Christmas trimmings |
New York City is a popular destination and it's easy to see why. This man-made landscape of a concrete jungle really does have it all. From top sights and entertainment that are are not to be missed. Especially the glamour of Times Square and the constructed nature of Central Park, to great food all around and lots of shopping to be done, that will leave your wallet feeling a bit injured. NYC is a place of something for all and much more. The Christmas holiday season, in particular, sees the city's festive levels lifted to dazzling heights. New York City is a dream of dreamers - those that haven't visited, dream of visiting and those that have, want to return. New York, New York, so nice people say it twice.
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