Comments on: How to Enjoy a Weekend in New York City

By: Ashlea

Ashlea — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:34:24 +0000

Anywhere crowded I go, I find I feel energized rather than stressed out. Probably one of the reasons I loved NYC!

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:25:48 +0000

Thanks for the tip! Sound’s pretty awesome!

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:28:58 +0000

Thanks for the great weekend in NYC tips. I spent a weekend there myself a few months ago. One great way to see a Broadway play that is even cheaper than seeing a matinee is to get RUSH tickets. Basically, 2 hours before the shows they have a lottery for front row seats at $25 each. If you go during the week with a friend and each put your name in the draw, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get tickets. Each draw allows you two tickets at the $25. I got to see Avenue Q and West Side Story… in the front row!

By: Steph

Steph — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:47 +0000

I’m a big fan of people watching. New York is definitely one of the greatest places for it!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:06:37 +0000

Excellent advice for enjoying New York City! The best way to get a real feel for New York (and probably any city) is to simply walk around and explore – and it doesn’t cost a penny!

The people watching is really great too. One of my favorite NYC activities is sitting at a window bar inside a coffee shop and watching the people go by. It’s also a great way to rest between the tourist activities.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:02:24 +0000

Interesting you give Cafeteria nods… It does decadent comfort food well.

By: Sosauce Blog : The Saucy Side of Travel.

Sosauce Blog : The Saucy Side of Travel. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:55:42 +0000

[...] How to Enjoy A Weekend in New York City [...]

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:21:14 +0000

Grant- I like wandering aimlessly around New York, there is a lot of random and interesting stuff to see.

Candice- You should definitely see NYC at some point, it’s like nowhere else on earth!

Kristen- I always like to look for the little details that you can only find away from the crowds. It does make for memorable pictures than yet ANOTHER shot of Big Ben.

Gray- next time I go up there I want to take some time to explore Brooklyn. Sadly I’ve never done much outside of Manhattan.

Andrea- We are going to that thrift store when I come visit you. No excuses.

Laura- One of my favorite things about living in London was that I got to spend so much time in the residential spots. it’s an entirely different aspect of city life that tourists often overlook.

Jessica- I also love Grand Central Station. The ceiling is so beautiful!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:00:02 +0000

Don't miss Grand Central Station, one of my favorite places in NY; it has some of the most beautiful architecture in the city. The Met is also well worth your time. .-= Jessica´s last blog .. =-.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:44:03 +0000

This is really true of many big tourist cities.
I like to take a bus to the suburban neighbourhoods with semi-detached houses and just walk around in parks and the streets. They’re also good places for spotting cats!
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Blog Action Day 2009 – Pictures from the Future =-.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:02:30 +0000

Yes! I never thought of myself as being able to live in NY until I moved there for a summer and was able to explore all the not-so-touristy parts of the city.

Only two other things I would like to add to your post:

(1) Going to the upper west side – not too many tourists go up there but it is a great neighborhood with fantastic restaurants.

(2) Thrift stores – people visiting NY seem to be interest in shopping on 5th avenue but I prefer to go to the AMAZING thrift stores where you can find some great stuff (I bought a pair of guess jeans for $3!) My favorite being housing works, where the money goes to provide social services to the underserved in NY.
http://www.housingworks.org/social-enterprise/thrift-shops/

By: Gray

Gray — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:44:27 +0000

So true! My earliest trips to NYC involved both touristy things as well as going off the beaten path, and I fell in love with the city that way. I love Little Italy and Greenwich Village and Brooklyn. The subway really makes all the boroughs very accessible, so there's no reason you need to stay in Manhattan where all the tourists are. Although it is kind of fun seeing all the lights of Times Square at Night, and hanging out in Central Park. You just need to brace yourself for the crowds. .-= Gray´s last blog ..5 Simple Ways Solo Travelers Can Save the Planet =-.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:42 +0000

These tips apply to way more than NY. Every time I travel I ditch out on 90% of the plans I thought about, spend at least one full day just walking around, usually alone, and getting the feel for the city.

Everything after that first day observing is easy. You pick up what the locals like, where they eat, the way they walk, their body language. You can usually tell what’s worth seeing, too, when you look away from the crowds. I love looking down alleyways (in the daylight). Some of my favorite photographs and characteristic memories of cities are of the forgotten architecture (London), or a hidden window garden (Paris), or my absolute favorite: a tiny thread shop, run by lackadaisical shopkeepers, walls brimming with brightly colored spools (Morocco).

Usually, I get asked directions (unless I’m in Morocco…) by the end of the day, which I like to think is something of a telling point.

This is a great post; great suggestions. When I’m in NY, I’ll have to look into that bookstore!

Thanks!
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..epic fail or epic win? =-.

By: Candice

Candice — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:01:36 +0000

I’m not a city girl, and I’ve never had a desire to see NYC…up until a week ago, when I dreamt about it, and now I can’t seem to shake the idea. Thanks for the tips!
.-= Candice´s last blog ..Stay where you’re at, and I’ll come where you’re to =-.

By: Grant Lingel

Grant Lingel — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:30:33 +0000

Being a New Yorker, I gotta say… it’s much better doing things that are off the beaten track. There is nothing worse than being trampled by thousands of tourists in Times Square or waiting forever to ride an elevator up the Empire State. It’s much better to cruise with no set plan… you’ll see a lot more and you’ll be relaxed while doing so. Great post, Stephanie!