Things to Know Before You Go: New York

Ahhh the city of lights, fashion, food and entertainment. 

If you do not like big crowds, high prices or walking then this is not the place for you lol! I have been to New York Several times and every experience was different. There is literally so much to do; a weekend get away wouldn't even be enough time for you to really be able to explore! So I have narrowed down the top things to do while in New York!

1. Go To A Sporting Event

NYC is home to multiple major sports teams. In fact, the Big Apple is home to 2 teams for each sport.  From April till October, you can enjoy the Yankees and the Mets (you can even tour Yankee Stadium). From August through December (and maybe January), the New York Giants and the Jets play just across the Hudson River in New Jersey. The Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks lace up their shoes from October through April (through June if they make the playoffs). NYC has 3 area hockey teams, the Rangers, the Devils, and the Islanders take the ice during the same time as the basketball teams.NYC is also home to the NYC Marathon, the U.S. Open Tennis Championship and many other smaller events. 

2. Take A Bus Tour

There are so many bus tours in NYC to choose from, from double-decker, hop-on-hop-off buses that really cover a lot of ground and can be a form of transportation,whether bike, bus or double decker. Some tours are based on themes, such as a movie and film sights tour, tours that cover just Brooklyn.There is even a pizza bus tour. One tour I haven't tried but would love to next time I go is the TMZ bus tour!

3. Stroll Through Central Park

This pastoral escape from the hustle and bustle of the city streets is everything you imagined it would be. Wide open spaces, shady trees, ponds and lakes surrounded by the beautiful buildings that line the park’s perimeter. It is even a greater place to have a picnic but watch out for the pigeons and squirrels! They are some thugs up there lol!

4. Visit The Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island

For some, this is a must do for visitors to NYC. You will need to plan to spend 4-5 hours to see both islands, but it really is worth it.  The views on the boat cruise out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are wonderful.  As with most popular attractions in NYC, both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tickets can be found on Groupon, make sure to check out the New York City Pass that includes multiple attractions for one discounted price!

5. Eat Real New York Food!

Ya'll know I am a foodie and have to get authentic food from wherever I travel and New York is no different! There are plenty of great places to eat in New York City and you don’t have to spend a lot of money for some of the world tastiest foods.You can find the best versions of iconic New York foods, such as pizza, bagels, pastrami or knishes, as well as restaurants that will suit your mood, budget, and location. My must do is to stop at a hot dog stand (there's one on every corner) and get a loaded hot dog. Ugh I am getting hungry as i type this. Go try a hot dog stand!! 

6. View the New York Skyline 

For incredible vistas and panoramic views,  there are three main observation decks: the Empire State Building, One World Observatory (Freedom Tower) or Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. Each has its own vantage point, as well as different prices of admission, varying wait time, and opening/closing hours.  If your feeling fancy you can do a helicopter tour.If you want to stay closer to the ground or prefer to not pay the entry fees of the 3 observatories, you can still get incredible views of the city, and in some cases for free.

7. Visit the 9/11 Memorial

9/11 What a sad day in history. Located in a simple, spacious wide-open plaza in Lower Manhattan, this memorial to the lost lives of 9/11 is an essential feature of New York City. Its massive twin fountains are an architectural wonder and a must-see. The memorial is free to visit. Located on the memorial ground is the National September 11th Museum, which documents the tragic events of 9/11 through artifacts, documents, and films. However there is a cost to enter the museum.  The museum is also included for free with the purchase of most tourist passes.