View from the Top of the Rock.
New York City is by far one of my favourite cities in the world.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit NYC twice; once in summer and once in winter, and both times I went, it was so surreal and magical - something I thought I’d never experience.
Going to a new place is always so exciting.
The first time I went to NYC was a surprise, it was in winter, and it was beautiful.
Central Park in winter.
The second time I went was in summer, and it was a completely different experience to going in the colder months. The trees are in full bloom, people are happier, and you don’t have to cover up in hundreds of layers of clothing!
Central Park in summer.
New York City is such a huge place with so much to do, so I thought I’d let you know my favourite things to see and do in this magical city - my beginner’s guide to New York City.
First off, because NYC is literally a concrete jungle, you need to go into the clouds and see the city from above, the Rockefeller Centre is the best place to do this. With the clear glass to see through and a view of the Empire State Building, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty in the distance, there is no better place to get a 360 view of the city.
On top of the Rockefeller Centre.
Located only a few blocks away from Times Square, it’s the perfect excuse to see the city and go for a bite to eat and shop in one of the busiest places in the world.
Something you absolutely must do while you’re in New York City in summer is bike ride through Central Park. There are multiple places to hire bikes from around the park, find the right place, hop on a bike and explore the wonder and beauty that is Central Park. Pro tip: the park is enormous, so make sure you allocate enough time to bike at least a quarter of this marvellous place.
Now, if you’ve watched any TV shows or movies based in New York, you’ll already know how bad the traffic is, so the best way to get around is by foot or on the subway!
When my friend and I were in NYC, we decided to walk everywhere (which, in the middle of summer wasn’t the best idea). We walked from Times Square down Manhattan and over the bridge into Brooklyn. Pro tip: If you’re going to walk anywhere in NYC in summer, make sure to pack a bottle of frozen water - you’ll thank me later.
View of Manhattan from Brooklyn.
Going to Brooklyn had always been my dream, so we decided to make the most of it. We went to Shake Shack, ventured down to the East River and took in all we could see; the beautiful Manhattan skyline, the boats driving past on the river, and of course, the New York locals.
I could go on and on about this phenomenal city, but to sum things up, here’s a list of things to see and do on your first trip to NYC.
Where to eat:
- Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square (an absolute must!)
- Shake Shack (Brooklyn) for some of the best burgers you’ll ever eat
- Black Tap for monstrous milkshakes that are out of this world
- Dough, for a delicious, humungous doughnut
Where to go:
Also, you’re in the United States, don’t forget to tip!
-Jas.
