By far the cheapest thing to do when going to NYC is to walk every where. Yes, you get tired. Yes, you look like a tourist if you are wearing sneakers to do it. Yes, it is worth it.
You come home physically exhausted but filled to the brim with the satisfaction of
being a part of the energetic, bustling city. And that right there is what makes you get up the next day and go do it again.
Over the years as visitors have stayed with us, we've crossed off a lot of the "touristy" things to do. Like the Empire State Building, MoMA, Guggenheim, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Natural History Museum (which I really
love). But some things that are worth repeating - like the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park.
So here's my list of potential things to do when we go back (in less than 3 weeks!):
the high line - a park that is built on unused train lines that goes over the meatpacking district.
manor park - We went here fairly often in high school. It's not in NYC at all, it's up in Larchmont. If you click the link, there are some other gorgeous pictures of the park.
botanical gardens/
bronx zoo - they used to do holiday lights at the zoo, but I think it's been cancelled for a couple years. I found people saying it is happening, and people saying it isn't, so I don't know who to believe. But zoos are always fun.
rockwood hall/rockefeller estate - I went here on a field trip in high school once. Taking a tour of the mansion costs money, but you can walk around rockwood hall (it is the summer home built by John D. Rockefeller's brother William. John built the huge mansion) for free and it is right on the Hudson river.
Directions here
Nutcracker Ballet - I've been twice and loved it. Tickets are a little bit pricey, so we probably won't go this year. Even though you know the story so well, it is enchanting to see it come alive.
chelsea market -- it's an indoor mall/food court. they also film some of the food network is on top level. Apparently the food is really good and there are decent shops too. I've never been, so I'd like to try.
whispering arches in grand central station - you stand in opposite corners of the archway and you can whisper sweet nothings to each other as if you were standing side-by-side!
staten island ferry - it's a free ride across NY Harbor with great views of both the city and the Statue of Liberty. Best part: FREE. It will probably be pretty cold this year though.
9/11 memorial - The last couple times I came down to ground zero the construction fences blocked everything. Everyone is kind of standing around trying to get a glimpse inside. It will be nice to see the new memorial. If you want to go, it does require an advance pass but you can reserve one
here.
NY LDS temple - I worked at the open house for this temple as a teenager. I remember hearing a lot of the behind-the-scenes stories. It is so pretty inside. I'm always amazed at how you can walk from the noisy city into the temple and the noise is gone.
chinatown - definitely a fun place to go. My favorite part of Chinatown are the guys that come up to you that want to sell you the knock-off handbags --- Not the ones on display. The ones that you have to follow him for blocks before he will show you a picture catalog of the bags and when you finally choose the bag you want, he makes a suspicious phone call. Then a car shows up and hands you a black bag that you can only look inside for a second, just to make sure it is the bag you want, before they rush you to close the bag. Yeah. Those handbags. I kind of want a wallet this year.
central park - I would go with a bagel and hot chocolate in hand, of course. -- I've even considered maybe doing a carriage ride through. Mostly because I'm a girl and I think it would be romantic. But look how pretty the park is! Although it probably isn't that color when we go.
broadway show - always fun. I wish I could have seen Les Mis before it closed. Wicked was also great.
brooklyn bridge/park - David mostly wanted to come here the first time because of Newsies and the scene where they are spitting off the bridge. But it really is such a fun thing to do. And there is the Brooklyn Bridge Park at the end conveniently located close to Grimaldi's. What a great coincidence!
rockefeller center - definitely a Christmas-time must-see. Plus all the lights on the storefronts around it are way fun too. Our Stake goes Christmas caroling in NYC - we start on the steps of the NY Public Library and sing and hand out doughnuts to people walking by. Then we would all walk down to Rockefeller Center and carol there for awhile.
So fun. One of my favorite NY Christmas memories.
What else?! Anyone done anything else that they loved?
Linking up here:
