New York City Travel Guide

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy New Year! We are all very aware of the big New Years Eve party in NYC. It’s the celebration on everyone’s bucket list (don’t even lie you know it is.) Ever since I was a little girl all I ever wanted to do was go to New York City. It’s the city you see in movies and TV shows. It’s the city that has all the famous stores and monuments, like the giant Macy’s store or the Statue of Liberty. Being able to actually experience it was a literal dream come true. When my dad told my mom and I that we were gonna change up our road trip to go to New York City, over New Years Eve especially, I packed immediately. The little road trip we were taking to Wilmington, North Carolina turned into so much more.

So if your thinking of booking that trip to New York, this is your sign. Whether your going over New Years or just going during springtime, I’m gonna give you some tips and tricks that I learned while being there during the craziest time of the year. Let’s face it though, nothing can actually prepare you for the big apple.

When my parents and I finally got to New York it was so surreal because we didn’t really know what to expect. Driving to it we were able to see the buildings and the Statue of Liberty but it was nothing compared to actually being in the city. As we went through the Lincoln Tunnel the excitement just built and built because this childhood dream was finally coming true. I’ll never forget the moment we turned the corner and we all went silent for a brief second, then we literally said “wow.” It was that amazing, buildings and people everywhere. You never want to look away because you might miss something.

We stayed at the Westin Hotel. It was literally a block away from Times Square if that. I HIGHLY recommend this hotel. The service and the hotel is so nice and amazing. Don’t forget to check your reservations though because my dad accidentally booked the wrong year and we almost couldn’t go. If your looking to go for New Years, you wanna book your hotel immediately because it books up so fast. Every hotel is full we’re lucky we got a room especially since we didn’t realize the reservation was wrong until the day before we got there. When you book a hotel, make sure it’s close to Times Square or in it. (there are 2 Westin hotels so make sure you get the one on 43rd street it’s the closest to Times Square which is on 42nd street.) That is the Tourist area and it’ll be your guide when walking around, also known as 42nd street. When you get lost just go to 42nd street. Take advantage of their bell boy service too and the valet parking. Believe me your gonna wanna drop your car and leave it. Driving in the city is stress inducing.

A little side note: If your just going to NYC, then I recommend flying. We left the day after Christmas and traffic was really horrible when driving through major cities. So unless your planning on stopping any place on the way like Washington DC or the Rocky Statue in Philadelphia like we did, then fly.

Moving onto the “must do” things. Now We went for three days and there is definitely more that I want to do, but for a really good trip I’ll tell you all the things I did and the trip was still fantastic. Everything we did gave a taste of a little bit of everything that New York had to offer. The first thing I’m gonna start off with is The Empire State Building. Girl, this was so cool. Especially since we went at Christmas time so they had all the decorations for the movie “elf” out. You can see some things from King Kong and lot’s of other movies as well. There are two tickets you can buy, one will take you to the very top of the building and the other will take you to the 86th floor. You don’t have to go all the way to the top to get the experience. The 86th floor one is just as good. Plus keep in mind that it’s winter and its FREEZING up there. I went at night and thought it was so beautiful, so don’t let those nighttime tickets scare you it’s still amazing even with the city lights on. When you buy tickets, there is a “skip the line” option. DO NOT get that one it is a scam. They still make you wait in line. Also the line was wrapped around the building, don’t let that scare you away the wait is nothing. We waited like maybe 10-15 min and then went right in. There’s a Starbucks right there so get a coffee and enjoy the scenery while you wait.

Now once your done with the Empire State Building walk right down Fifth Avenue until you run into the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. It is a very short but very cute must see show. Now keep in mind, the Rockefeller Center Tree is right across the street so this is where everyone gathers. I think it was the most crowded place out of the whole trip, but girl you got to see the tree. It looks just like the movies. Even though it is very crowded make sure you take a few minutes to take it all in, it is such a surreal moment. Plus, you can see the lightshow better from the tree. However, we watched it like 5 times from different areas from breaking our necks looking up at it, to across the street in front of it, to at the tree looking at it. There is of course the Iconic ice skating rink in front of the tree. It would be fun, but the wait is like 2 hours and we would of rather spent that time checking out the city than waiting in line but that’s totally up to you.

Next to the tree on the left is the famous toy store FAO Schwarz. Unfortunately we didn’t go in because it was really crazy and I think they were closing up too because it was late at night. Definitely go check it out though. To the right of the Tree down that street (I can’t remember the street name because geography is not my thing) was the Radio City Music Hall. It is definitely worth seeing.

Of course there is Times Square. You could literally spend a whole day exploring it. It has so many amazing and unique stores and other attractions. The two I would recommend are the m&m factory and the Hershey’s Chocolate World. I got a hot chocolate in Hershey’s and it was amazing. I’m not gonna spoil anything but definitely check them out. I also recommend seeing Times Square at night and experiencing it because all the lights are more bright and it’s really an otherworldly thing. I have yet to go into the Disney Store but I hear great things. There’s always next time.

Next up we have a Broadway show. Go see a Broadway show no matter which one you choose it will be good. The cool thing is that each Broadway show has a different place. So as you walk around you can see the different theaters and what show is playing in that theater. We went to the Michael Jackson one in the Neil Simon Theater and it was sooooo good. It was amazing. The dancing and singing and song choices were just excellent. My only complaint would be that the seats are really tight and squished together, they do that to fit a lot of people. It wasn’t bad at all we just weren’t expecting it. I wish there was a little more room but it wasn’t too bad that I wouldn’t go again.

Next up I would say go see the “Friends” building. Now for all my girlies that have watched the show you know what I’m talking about. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. It literally look’s exactly like the building and my mom and I were totally fangirling over it. Also eat at the cafe below it because it’s so cute and it’s the friends building so you kind of have too. Just know that the cafe looks nothing like the one in the show. I’ll leave the address so you guys can find it.

You have to go see Central Park too and see what that’s all about. You can rent bikes or take a horse carriage ride around it. We didn’t walk all the way around we just walked through a small section of it. Make sure to spot out The Plaza Hotel as well and live your Home Alone dreams. You can see it from the park.

The Statue of Liberty because it’s something you have to see at least once, especially if you live in America. You’ll learn a lot of stuff you didn’t know about in the museum they have there. You can also get a ticket to Ellis Island, unfortunately we ran out of time to check out Ellis Island, but definitely do it. I plan on doing it next time I go back.

Now the next one is a sensitive one but go check out the 9/11 Memorial and get a guided tour. Without the tour you’ll miss out on so much important history and landmarks around the actual museum of 9/11. So make sure to check it out and pay your respects but also be super respectful because you never know who is there. Bundle up too because it’s completely outside until you go into the museum and it’s December so it’s super chilly.

A little side note: New York is about triple the price of everything especially food, so make sure you plan on paying more. Chick-fil-a went from $4 to $12. Just something to keep in mind. As soon as you leave the city though everything goes back to normal.

Ok next let’s talk about Transportation. This one is super simple…WALK. I know how it sounds but everything is really not that far and there is so much to look at that you forget your even walking most the time. Now if you have to go really far then take an Uber or a Taxi. We had to go from our hotel by Times Square clear across town to get to our tour for 9/11. So we took an uber for that. We let the people that know how to drive in the city take on the stress of driving in the city lol. Also take the subway just for fun! We took it like 3 times and it was only like $2 or something each time. You have to do it just because it’s New York. I can’t tell you how to read the sign of the stops though that’s why I had my dad. There is also these guys on bikes that has like a “carriage” I guess we could call it that you sit in, and they take you places too, but it’s really pricey it’s like $15 a minute or something like that.

Moving onto food everyone’s favorite topic. I know you probably always hear about New York pizza, but girl it is actually the best pizza in the United States. Even though it’s usually thin crust it’s super good. We ate pizza at multiple places and every time it popped off. Don’t be afraid of the little places they are the hidden gems. When we weren’t eating pizza we ate at places that looked intriguing and good. New York had a lot of unique places and TONS of food choices to pick from. A really cute place to eat is Cosmic Diner. It is across the street from the Neil Simon Theatre where we saw Michael Jackson. Lot’s of food for the price and super filling. It was really good quality too.

One thing I would say to avoid food wise is the yellow umbrella carts, also known as the Sabrett. I got a corn dog and it was cold and wasn’t really that filling or good. It is very New York to get one but just know it’s not the best and you probably won’t get full. I don’t know if it was just the cart we went too but it didn’t blow me away. Plus for the price it wasn’t that worth it to me.

A little side note: Carry a bag or purse that is close to your body and that is small to avoid pick pocketers. I carried around a fanny pack so I could have my hands free and so my bag was in front of me the whole time.

Ok so I think we covered all food, attractions, and transportation. I wanna give you a little insight about being there on New Year’s Eve, I know that’s what your dying to know about.

The first thing I will say is you have to get tickets for the actual event in Times Square. With those tickets they give you a special entry point to get in. You also have to wake up EARLY. Like 3am early. The celebration doesn’t start until about 9pm so you are standing there all day reserving your spot. If you think you can sit in a restaurant and watch, then you need to make a reservation way in advance same with the hotel. The restaurants book up and they usually charge a high fee because its such a desirable location to be on New Years Eve. I recommend the Applebees in Times Square. After seeing it’s location and knowing that they do the special reservation for it that’s where I recommend because it’s the most budget friendly for what you get. Also, the businesses around don’t let you use the bathroom so you have to wear a diaper. When my family read that and discovered it was true… we decided to not go right into the action. Number 1, was because we were in New York and we didn’t want to spend a whole day standing there we would rather be out exploring. Number 2, because we were not going to wear a diaper and stand in our own filth all day…no thank you.

People will do anything to get a glimpse of Times Square or get as close to it as possible. There is so many cops that work that day it’s actually insane. As we got closer to our hotel around the time the celebration started people were starting to crowd onto 43rd street. Which is the next street over from Times Square that you can actually hear the celebration going on. In order to get to our hotel which was on the corner of 43rd street we had to show our hotel room key just to get past the cops, all while fighting the crowd of people trying to get through. Lucky for us we ran into some guys giving out those Planet Fitness hats so we got some of those and that made the whole experience even better because we felt like we fit right in. Back in the safety of our hotel room we watched the ball drop on the TV and we watched the crowd of people that didn’t get tickets for the event form outside our window. The event was a whole street away and people were forming just to get a glimpse of it. It was insane I have never seen anything like it before. I feel like it may have been more entertaining than the actual event would of been lol. It was cool being there and watching it on TV as it was happening, but also seeing the craziness outside.

Overall it was a great experience. Whether you go for New Years or are just taking a trip, New York is a place I think everyone should see at least once. Nothing can fully prepare you for what it has to offer. I can’t wait to go back….maybe not for New Years though. It’s time I see it with a little less people. Just a little bit hehe. Comment down below if you would ever go to New York and what you would absolutely have to do while your there. I would say see the Friends Building. Talk to you soon beautiful humans xoxo.