As you may have seen, if you follow me on Instagram, I visited NYC at the end of June/start of July this year. It may have been my fourth trip to the Big Apple but there were still so many new things to see and do. So, today I've put together my list of my new New York City must sees and why you should have them on your list if you're planning a visit to New York soon.
It goes without saying but this blog post is going to be pretty photo heavy. Even though I was travelling on my own and had to rely on strangers to take some snaps for me, I still managed to get some incredible photos.
So, here's a little roundup of my recent trip and my new New York City must sees;
Visit one of the new observation decks
Since my last visit both Edge and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt had opened. And both are absolute must-dos. Here's why each of them are well worth a visit;
Edge
100 floors up you'll find the largest and highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere; Edge. Jutting out from 30 Hudson Yards (whose mall is also well worth a visit), you quite literally feel like you're right on the edge of the city. And the views are absolutely incredible. If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen me share that it was actually pretty hazy the evening that I visited. What looks like mist was actually smoke from the Canadian wild fires thousands of miles away. Despite that, I still got some fantastic photos.
Highlights include the glass floor that you can walk across and lots of fun photo opps both inside and outside. And if you're brave enough, you can even sign up for City Climb, which sees you lean out over the side of the skyscraper.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
While I visited Edge in the evening I chose to visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt as soon as it opened. And getting the 9am slot would be my biggest tip for visiting this particular observation deck. I got in line at around 8:30am and even ended up in the very first elevator up that morning. Because of that, I managed to get so many photos before it started to get busy.
Highlights include the three (yes three!) levels of immersive spaces. From the incredible mirrored sections to the floating reflective balloons, to the two glass ledges suspended 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue. You truly are spoiled for choice when it comes to photo opportunities and unforgettable experiences.
See a Broadway show
I have to admit, up until this trip I wasn't too fussed about seeing a Broadway show. People always recommend it but it felt like an unnecessary expense for me on previous visits. That was until Moulin Rouge arrived on Broadway. As I knew when I was going to be visiting I actually ended up booking my Moulin Rouge tickets before my flights.
I cannot explain how magical this show is. If you love the movie, it takes all the best parts but does them on a much grander scale. The costumes, the staging, the voices - everything is just incredible and OTT in the very best way. I simply could not get the songs out of my head for weeks after seeing it. Let's just say, I've got a feeling the soundtrack will easily make it into my Spotify Wrapped this year.
There are so many Broadway shows to choose from that there will no doubt be something that catches your eye during your trip.
Take the Staten Island Ferry
On my very first visit to NYC I took the ferries over to Liberty and Ellis Island, which I did enjoy. But I'd always seen people recommend hopping on the free Staten Island Ferry instead. And this time I did exactly that.
This was a lovely way to spend a morning and great if you're looking to take a little bit of a rest on a hectic day in the city. It probably takes about an hour all in, as you have to disembark on Staten Island, even if you're just looking to turn around and go straight back to Manhattan. So, there is a little bit of a wait in the ferry terminal. But I got some great photos of the Manhattan skyline and you even see Lady Liberty herself and Ellis Island in the distance. I definitely enjoyed my scenic journey across the water.
Ride the Roosevelt Island Tramway
Another really affordable/free way to see the city from a different vantage point is the Roosevelt Island Tramway. For $2.90 (the same price as a Subway ride) or technically included in your 7 day Unlimited Subway ticket, you can take the short trip across to Roosevelt Island.
And you can get some great shots as the tramway travels across the water. This was such a unique vantage point too and I can't believe it took me until my fourth trip to finally do it.
TOP TIP: Try to be one of the first on to get on to nab a window seat or standing position from which you can take photos/videos.
Check out Little Island Park
We all know and love Central Park but there's a new must-see park in New York City; Little Island Park. This floating park was absolutely beautiful. There are plenty of spots to sit, explore and just relax for a little while.
It's also steps away from Chelsea Market. So, if you've just walked the High Line or visited Chelsea Market, you simply have to take a few extra steps to see this beautiful green space.
Look out for a special museum exhibit
There are so many incredible museums to visit in New York. So much so, it can feel a little overwhelming as to which one or ones to fit into your trip. Which is why I would recommend picking a museum based on a special exhibit or type of art that you're interested in.
I just happened to be there when the Museum of Arts and Design was doing the Taylor Swift Storyteller exhibit. And as a Swiftie I was overjoyed to be able to see her costumes and little behind the scenes bits and bobs.
Even though it is significantly smaller than many of the other museums in Manhattan, the they also had another exhibit that was right up my street.
So, those are my new New York City must sees.
Is New York on your list of places to visit? If so, are any of these on your must-see list? And which one would you do first?
5