In June, I chose to travel to one of the most exciting cities in the world… New York City! This was the best reprieve from a long COVID travel hiatus that gave many travel-lovers around the world cabin fever. Two years was way too long and I needed to reignite my adventurous spirit.
I couldn’t wait for all the exciting, new experiences waiting for me! I am happy to report that NYC was all that I had hoped it would be. Find my top NYC highlights below and you will fall in love with this magical city as I have…
NYC High Line
To enjoy a unique breathtaking view of New York City which is free-to-all; take a stroll along the High Line. This is a 2.33km walk that stretches from the Vessel in the Hudson Yards to the trendy Chelsea City where you can end off your day at the vibey indoor Chelsea Food Market. The High Line is built on a historic, elevated rail line and along it, there are beautiful gardens and art installations.
Classic Friends sitcom cast
You can reminisce over one of the most loved and timeless TV series, Friends, at the corner of Bedford and Grove Streets in the West Village. You’ll recognise the tan brick building which served as the Friends’ apartment exterior. This left me humming the theme song “I’ll be there for you” for the rest of the day.
Brooklyn Bridge
Soak up the stunning views of both the great city and its river at the Brooklyn Bridge. Stroll across Washington Street in Dumbo (between Front and Water Streets) for a classic shot of the Manhattan Bridge and Empire State Building, after which you can make your way across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan.
View of Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island from Ferry
The iconic orange-painted Staten Island Ferry is a free service that runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The ferries travel between South Ferry in Manhattan to Staten Island and you will be able to appreciate stunning views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty as well as Ellis Island.
Trevor Noah – The Daily Show
Attend a live taping of the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. All you need to do is visit the official Daily Show website and choose a date, the number of tickets you want and lastly, a motivational pitch on why you love the show.
Note that to register, you must be at least 18 years old. As great and easy as this is; getting a ticket doesn’t guarantee admittance as it depends on the number of people who have tickets for that day.
Broadway in NYC
If you’re in NYC in the summertime, seize the opportunity to have a picnic in Bryant Park where you can watch an outdoor movie at no expense but get there early as spaces are limited.
Broadway is home to many classics like The Phantom of the Opera; as well as Wicked, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In addition, you can also watch shows like MJ (Michael Jackson), The Lion King, Chicago and Aladdin which are currently on show. The TKTS ticket stands on Time Square and Lincoln Centre, offer same-day discount tickets to Broadway shows of up to 50% off original prices. Tickets can only be booked in person at the ticket booths. The queues are long with no guarantee that the show you want to see will be available but I can promise you that this extravagant experience will definitely be worth it.
Empire State Building
New York has some stunning views, especially the views from above! My favourites include Summit One Vanderbilt, Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Centre, One World Observatory and the Empire State Building. Visit Timeout’s List of Rooftop Bars for even more options!