A Weekend in New York City

New York City is the city that never sleeps, and spending a weekend there means that your days are filled with endless opportunities to learn more about the city’s culture, history, and lifestyle. Although the city is constantly evolving and filled with life, some places feel remarkably peaceful and like home in a way, while others will leave you feeling like you’re part of the city’s lifestyle and moving constantly. The city is filled with many experiences, delicious food and drinks, and there is no better way to get around than by its infamous transportation methods. Here are some of the best ways to spend a weekend in New York City that will allow you to enjoy all of the most famous spots in the city.

Transportation

The Big Bus

As a tourist who may be experiencing The Big Apple for the first time, it can be confusing to try and figure out how the subway works at first. The Big Bus is a double-decker tour bus for tourists that takes riders throughout the city and stops at the city’s most popular landmarks. Two lines run through the city: the red line, which runs through lower Manhattan, hitting spots like SoHo, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Brooklyn Bridge, and the blue line, which runs through upper Manhattan and hits places like Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and The Met. The bus offers a hop-on on hop-off option to allow riders to utilize the bus throughout the day to hit as many experiences as they can. Tickets range from $60 to 135 a person, and there is an exclusive package available that includes tickets to the Empire State Building (Standard Entry) and ferry tickets to the Statue of Liberty.

The Subway

The subway is one of the most well-known and most-used methods of transportation in New York City. Compared to the Big Bus, the subway will allow you to try and fit in as many items as you can on your itinerary and will minimize the amount of walking around the city. Riding the subway for the first time can be very intimidating, but as long as you don’t stand too close to the track, keep track of your belongings, and watch your surroundings, the subway is the most efficient way to get around. If you are planning on utilizing the subway throughout your weekend in the city, a 3-day pass is highly recommended to make your experience cheaper and more efficient.

Food and Drinks

Zucker’s Bagels and Smoked Fish

A New York City bagel is a necessity when visiting the city! Located next to Bryant Park and with multiple locations throughout the city, Zucker’s Bagels serves fresh, hand-rolled bagels each day and has multiple options to choose from to have your bagel. Some of their signature bagels include their everything, poppy seed, and a vibrant rainbow bagel, served in whatever way you would like. Whether you are a plain-on-plain kind of person or like your bagels stacked with all of the fixings, there is something for everyone to try.

Serendipity 3

This dessert experience is unforgettable and will leave you wanting more sweets! Serendipity 3 on the Upper East Side is a New York City staple, home to its famous ‘Frrrozen’ Hot Chocolate. Desserts here are huge and are able to be split among your entire party. The Strawberry Fields sundae was a sweet masterpiece and had the perfect balance of sweetness with the cheesecake, ice cream, and whipped cream, while complementing the fresh strawberries on top to add even more flavor. Serendipity not only has amazing desserts, but their food and drink selection is top-tier and has a wide range of food choices, from American classics to de la maison cheese ravioli. If you have a large party and want to skip the wait, be sure to make a reservation in advance. This restaurant is one that you do not want to miss out on.

Carmine’s

Carmine’s is a family-style Italian restaurant with locations in Times Square and on the Upper West Side. These portions will leave you and your party feeling full, but most importantly, satisfied with their tasty dishes and drinks. For starters, their Caesar and Mixed Green salad were extremely fresh and bursting with intense flavor and spices. Their Caesar dressing in particular was one of the best and even had a kick of spice to it to add to the experience. Moving on to the entrees, you can never go wrong with classic spaghetti and meatballs. This dish’s meatballs were packed with flavor, and the rich marinara sauce made it even better. The Times Square location is located right next to Broadway and is the perfect place to eat before catching a show.

Experiences

Wicked

There is no better place to hold space for Defying Gravity than at the Gershwin Theatre. Wicked undoubtedly remains one of the best Broadway productions in history, and if you have never seen a Broadway show or are a diehard Broadway fan, seeing Wicked live in New York is one of the most breathtaking experiences ever. Lenicia Kebede’s performance as Elphaba is out of this world! Her stunning delivery and breathtaking vocals leave audiences drawn to her character’s story as she evolves from an outcast to the Wicked Witch of the West. The entire cast and production are wickedly talented and continue to leave an everlasting effect on audiences after more than twenty years of production. This production remains a classic on Broadway and is a must-see whenever visiting New York City.

The Empire State Building

Once the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building continues to stand tall and remain one of the city’s most recognized skyscrapers. Today, visitors can experience it firsthand and purchase tickets to go up to either the 86th or 102nd floor and experience one of the most breathtaking views of New York City. On the way to the top, guests are taken through different eras of the building’s history, highlighting key moments, celebrity photos, and iconic film appearances. One of the most exciting parts of the experience is the photo opportunity with King Kong as he climbs his way to the top of the building. Although those experiences are very fun, once completed, you are taken to the elevators, which will take you to the observatory. You can move around the building and see famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and One World Trade Center. If you want to capture the best photos of the city, book your tickets around sunset and you’ll be amazed by its beauty.

The Met

The first Monday of May means it’s time for celebrities to put on their gowns and attend the Met Gala. But on any other day, the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers stunning artworks and showcases diverse aspects of history through a wide variety of forms. The museum takes you on a journey through time, telling stories through its carefully curated paintings, artifacts, and statues. This year’s Met Gala theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and it featured a breathtaking exhibit. The exhibit featured items of clothing, paintings, and photographs that highlight key moments in Black history, from the 18th century to the present day. This experience was truly fascinating as it takes you out of reality and immerses you in the art, allowing you to follow the story as it unfolds.

Times Square

Filled with many shops and tourists and located right next to Broadway, Times Square is quite literally the heart of the city. When you think of Times Square, you must either think of New Year’s Eve or the vibrant billboards. The billboards truly make the experience what it is and immerses visitors in a true city experience. Some of the highlights of the area are the Disney, M&M, and Hershey stores. These stores take some of your favorite brands, give them a New York twist, and let you create lasting memories with them in the city. To make your experience even more of an adventure, at 11:57 pm each night, all of the billboards display an art show from various artists. This experience is the perfect way to begin, enjoy, and wrap up your day in the city.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The attacks on September 11, 2001, deeply impacted the lives of families and our nation in various ways. The 9/11 Memorial was an experience like no other. Where the Twin Towers once stood, two memorial pools now honor the names of the victims. The memorial evokes deep emotion and vulnerability, offering a place for visitors to pay their respects to the victims and heroes lost on that day. Along with the memorial is the 9/11 Museum, where visitors can learn about the attacks and how they’ve changed our world as we know it. The area once known as Ground Zero stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and remembrance. Standing at 1776 feet tall and currently the tallest building in the United States, One World Trade Center honors the Twin Towers as they once stood. This stop in the city holds a lot of emotion but allows you to learn about one of the most pivotal moments in our nation’s history.

New York City is filled with endless opportunities for fun and adventure. These were only a few highlights, but there’s still so much more to explore. Places like SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park were all part of this weekend in the city and are located near many of the experiences mentioned above. If you’re planning a weekend in the city, try organizing your days by area. For example, start in Lower Manhattan with spots like SoHo and the 9/11 Memorial. Then move to Midtown Manhattan and visit places like Times Square, the Empire State Building, and catch a Broadway show. Finally, end your trip in Upper Manhattan by exploring The Met, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center. New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but after a weekend here, you’ll be dreaming of coming back.