New York in a Nutshell
- Carys Reid-Davies
- Oct 28, 2019
- 8 min read
New York; it really is London but on steroids. A concrete jungle rife with yellow cabs hurtling down roads which are already jam packed. A city with smells and noises and sights like no other. If you're not careful it'll swallow you up whole, but if you can navigate the grid system, survive the drivers who stop for no one, and make sense of the thick New York accent, then you may well be in for one hell of a treat.
When I travelled to this frantic place four years ago, I only had five days to soak it all up. At first I was a little apprehensive, how could we possibly cover this infamous city in just less than a week? However, I found that this was actually perfect, we just had to make the most of each day. Now usually, I'd take you through each day, but for New York I'm going to do it a bit differently. I've broken it down into categories to make sure I cover EVERYTHING, because let me tell you, there's a hell of a lot to talk about!
Food
Okay, let's be honest, everyone is obsessed with the food in New York. Now I'm not necessarily the best person when it comes to American cuisine. Hamburgers, steaks, pastrami, salami, just meat in general is a huge part of New Yorkers diets ... and I'm vegetarian. Now that's not to say there's not veggie meals on offer, there are. With an abundance of delicatessens and food quite literally everywhere, I was never short of something to eat. And let's not forget that New York is also famous for it's pretzels, bagels and, of course, the Waldorf salad which I'd always been fascinated by since watching Faulty Towers! Now whilst it is a foodies heaven, New York portions are triple the size and packed with sugar and salt so it is a bit of a shock to the system. If you get it right though, your taste buds will be exploding from the flavoursome dishes New York has to offer.
Wow, this place was just so ... New York! With waiters who made you feel like you were causing them a huge inconvenience when ordering, we couldn't quite work out if it was all act or they were just New York born and bred. With pictures of famous visitors draped all over the walls of the quirky Deli, we relished being here. I was especially enchanted as this was where the famous scene took place in When Harry Met Sally where Sally proves to Harry that girls can 'fake it'. A scene of cinematic genius, in my opinion! They had pastrami sandwiches the size of your head, and maple syrup pancakes stacked up to the ceiling. It was just brilliant in every way and quite an iconic place to eat. If you're going to New York, you have to try stop by Katz's!
Oh my good god. I'm still not sure if I dreamed up this place because it really was beyond wacky. It is a 1950's themed retro diner situated in the heart of Broadway which transports you into a real life musical! With waiters and waitresses who sporadically burst into song and dance, you certainly aren't short of entertainment in this quirky eatery. The food is nothing to shout about, but the experience definitely is!
This is a wonderful place to wander around, with the cobbled streets now home to flourishing clubs, bars and restaurants. It also homes Gansevoort Market which has such a variety of food on offer. If you're with a group who have different food preferences, this is a great option. It's a real double whammy, a sightseeing opportunity with plentiful dining options. What more could you want?
Central park is HUGE, I mean massive. So, when spending time here you may find yourself getting hungry. We stumbles across The Loeb Boathouse and it was amazing. I actually had the best veggie burger I think I've ever eaten here! It is right on a gorgeous lake so if it's nice weather you can watch boats bob along the tranquil water whilst packing away some grub.
I don't have a picture of the Boathouse but this gorgeous fella was outside so if that isn't enough to tempt you to go then I don't know what is!
Sightseeing
We all know the generic attractions associated with New York. Why? Because there's so many! So here's a breakdown of everything I managed to get round.
It was the location for a Doctor Who episode, Alicia Keys and Jay Z released a song about it, and it has featured in countless films (Elf and Sleepless in Seattle to name a couple). So, is it worth all the hype? The answer is sort of. There is no doubt that it is a beautiful structure and the view from the top is good, but it's not the best. There are better places to see the New York skyline and, of course, when you're up the Empire State Building you can't see it! Therefore, I would actually recommend Rockefeller over Empire State in terms of views.
This was really something, and completely free! Well, it was if you went to Bar Sixty Five where you could sit back, relax and sip on a cocktail. Bliss, right? We went for sunset and the view was spectacular. Seeing the Empire State Building from here was amazing and all with a drink in hand. It's a must do!
There's nothing to do here, as such, but walking down Wall Street feels like being on a film set. It is so iconic and packed full of history so definitely worth a gander!
It is arguably the most famous statue in the world. The Statue of Liberty watches over New York in all it's glory. We opted to get a boat tour which took us past, but the whole trip was a treat in itself. Seeing New York from the water gives you a whole different perspective and one that is definitely worth viewing!
I will never forget the first time I watched Twin Towers crumble down. The footage of that first plane speeding into the building chilled me to the bone and I felt numb for the remainder of the day. I felt strongly about going to the memorial in New York to pay our respects for all those who lost their lives that horrific day. We also went to the museum which, whilst very important to do, was harrowing. We left feeling sombre but I am so glad we went.
Activities
Let me tell you right now, you will never be short of something to do here. I still can't quite believe we packed all this in, but here's all the top activities we tried out.
I may sound like a broken record but wow oh wow Times Square was unbelievable. There is never a quiet time to go but that was the beauty of it. With billboards flashing, theatre lights sparkling and NYPD cars scattered around, there was no mistaking where we were. On our last day we decided to go and watch Chicago (my favourite musical) and it was incredible! A musical on Broadway and visiting Times Square can now be ticket off my bucket list, but that won't stop me from going back!
I had no idea quite how vast Central Park was. We decided the best way to explore it would be to hire out bikes, so off we went peddling round the diameter. About an hour later we'd done a full circuit and I was glad to have had the bike as we were limited with our time! On another occasion when we were further in, we came across the zoo which I just could not resist (if you've read my other blogs you'll know I'm a sucker for zoos)! Whether you want to wander around in your own time or pay a flying visit, there's so much in Central Park.
The Museum of Modern Art is a must for any art lovers. I, myself, am by no means an art enthusiast, but it was a lovely way to spend a couple hours and if you've done a lot then this is a more relaxing option where you can catch your breath (because New York really will take your breath away)!
Whilst this picture isn't anything to do with MOMA, I really loved the sign (+ it's quite artistic don't you think)?
Who doesn't love the Natural History Museum? It is fascinating and so interactive that children and adults alike will no doubt have a wonderful time. Oh, and the giant whale is spectacular! You may have to queue, but it is worth the wait my friends.
If you like sport then you can't miss out on the opportunity to go to a sporting event. Both basketball and baseball are huge in New York so no where else will you experience such an atmosphere. It was actually a friend who sidled off one day to indulge in a basketball match but he came back with raving reviews! Just try to book in advance as tickets can get pretty pricey!
Again I don't have pictures of a sport match so here's some skyscrapers instead!
I am a Tiffany's girl through and through. That little blue bag never fails to make my stomach flip in excitement and Breakfast At Tiffany's is one of my favourite films. Going to Tiffany's in New York was so special, and whilst I didn't purchase anything, feasting my eyes on all the beautiful diamonds had me smiling until my face hurt. If jewellery isn't your thing, though, you won't be short of options. New York has some of the best shopping in the world so if you want to upgrade your wardrobe, you'll be in the right place!
New York, like most cities, has a rich music scene. When we landed we actually went straight to a Vance Joy gig as we thought it was a good way to spend our first night. Despite being fairly jet lagged, it was fabulous so I'd recommend checking who is touring when you go. We also visited The Strawberry Fields on route to the gig, so it was a very musical first night.
Weather
Who knew the weather could change so dramatically? I mean, from living in the UK I'm used to turbulent weather (we even had a heatwave in February last year where temperatures peaked at 20 degrees)! Never, have I known such a severe change in temperature than in New York, though. I think we must have experienced every weather condition under the sun! The most bizarre experience for me, though, was having one day where the temperature was in the minus degrees (I think it was about -2!) and the next day being up in the high 20s (around 26 degrees). How is that possible, in the space of 24 hours? So, if you're planning a trip be prepared for anything weather wise and pack a variety. We went in April and it was still unpredictable so don't be caught off guard!
BE WARNED
So there you have it, New York in a nutshell. There is a reason why it is called the city that never sleeps. You'll have to watch out for cabs and jay walking is a BIG no no. Also be careful of gimmicky tours and restaurants. Everywhere you go someone will be trying to convince you to invest in 'the best tour in New York' but these are often overpriced and underwhelming. The best advice I could give would be to soak it up yourself and try to find places that are off the beaten track (especially when it comes to finding restaurants). Recommendations from true New Yorkers is the best way to find those special spots, but don't be disheartened if they seem rude. Everyone in New York is in a rush and the people there have built up a reputation for being brusk, but not everyone is like that.
Just remember, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere!
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