3 Days in New York City
We recently had a wonderful opportunity to spend two days together with (most of) our family in New York City. This 2 Days in New York City itinerary reflects our actual trip. The main difference is that we actually arrived mid-morning on Sunday, and left mid-morning on Tuesday.
Our teenage daughters had never been to NYC, and my husband and I hadn’t been there for about twenty years. So this was an exciting part of our summer travels that started in New England and ended in The Big Apple! There are so many things to do in New York City, and we wanted to show them a broad range of sights and activities.
I’ll note that Broadway was still closed at the time of our visit, so our itinerary for New York City did not include any shows.
Day 1 – Central Park and Random Exploring
We had spent the previous night in New Haven, Connecticut, so we got up in the morning and drove into the city. I would not recommend driving in NYC for most people. But my husband really thought he could do it (he was right!) plus, the city had a lot fewer outsiders visiting since Broadway was still closed. Even so, I’m glad I didn’t do any driving.
Central Park and Tavern on the Green
Our first stop was Central Park. We parked in a nearby parking garage and then crossed over into the park. We wandered through the park and then just relaxed in one of the big green open spaces, did some people watching, and just generally chilled out until time for brunch.
But we eventually got hungry and the time for our reservations at Tavern on the Green arrived. This restaurant is located on the west side of Central Park.
You may be familiar with Tavern on the Green, because it has been featured in a number of well-known movies. My husband wanted to go there after seeing it in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, an adorable movie starring Jim Carrey. Arthur and Beaches also showcased the restaurant; for a complete list, check their history page on their website!
The food was simply divine, but the ambiance of the restaurant and the professionalism of the waitstaff were outstanding, too. We ate indoors, but the outdoor seating looked wonderful, too.
After eating, we went back into the park and visited the Shakespeare Garden, Bow Bridge, and Belvedere Castle.
You’ll see lots of people taking horse and carriage rides. Please consider skipping this activity. Although it may look fun, these animals are often abused or overworked. For more information, please see this article from the New York Times.
Driving Around and Hotel Check-in
Since our daughters hadn’t visited before – and in fact, we hadn’t been since our 1st wedding anniversary – we drove around for some time just to see the sites. We headed south until we could see Freedom Tower; it was difficult to think that the last time we’d been in the city, the Twin Towers were still standing.
Then we traversed the Brooklyn Bridge, and tried to stop for the famous DUMBO shot where the Statue of Liberty is framed, but it was too busy.
We came back to Manhattan and saw the New York Supreme Court building, Chinatown, and then pulled up to our hotel, LeSoleil in Midtown. After a short break, we walked around. Skylar found a bookstore (her favorite kind of store), and we walked over to the Empire State Building.
Walking Around and Dinner at The Liberty
We walked further to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where Shelby had thought perhaps she might attend after high school. We ended up in this long conversation with a security guard about all things New York. He shared a selfie of himself with Chrissy Teigen, whom he’d met when John Legend was performing at Madison Square Gardens. I even asked if he ever worked security for MSG on New Year’s Eve, and he immediately had me pegged as a Phish fan. Yes, he had. He said they were the nicest group of guys he’d ever met.
Afterward, we ate at The Liberty on 35th Street. I thought the food, drinks, and desserts were really well done. A lot of restaurants, The Liberty included, had added sidewalk seating during COVID times. We sat outside in a private little room that was kind of like a tent but not stuffy. Everything we ordered, including the pizza, was delicious. Additionally the waiter was very attentive, and the bill wasn’t that much, considering we were in New York City. So I can recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
Day 2 – The Met, Top of the Rock, Times Square
For breakfast the next day, we chose a simpler establishment: Andrews Coffee Shop on 7th Avenue, because of the proximity to our hotel on 36th street. It was recommended by the porter, whom we had befriended upon arrival. I was glad to see that my Americano didn’t take long to arrive, because I was dragging and needed the caffeine!
Our daughters both ordered Nutella pancakes, which were delicious. Being in New York, I of course went for the classic bagel and cream cheese option, which did not disappoint. My husband doesn’t eat breakfast, so he sat patiently and watched us devour our meals.
Then, because we wanted to give the girls the true city experience, we took the subway from there up to the Met.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
I feel like, when you visit the city for the first time, it’s important to go to one of the museums. We gave the girls their choice between the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the American Museum of Natural History. They chose The Met. At the time we were there, you had to purchased timed-entry tickets, which I didn’t realized ahead of time. So we had approximately a 30-minute wait before we could go inside. We used that time to shop a couple of vendors along 5th Avenue, and to sit by the fountains and people watch.
Inside the museum, you’ll find several floors of permanent collections, as well as a few traveling exhibits. My favorite parts were:
- The Egypt wing and its Tomb of Perneb
- The American wing, in particular, Washington Crossing the Delaware
- The Medieval Armor Galleries, complete with a suit of armor actually worn by Henry VIII
- The European Paintings Collection, with pieces from Klimt, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, and many more
There are also areas for African art, Asian art, Islamic art, Greek and Roman art, modern and contemporary art, and musical instruments. The museum is way too big to see it all in a single visit.
Top of the Rock
In the late afternoon, we had tickets to Rockefeller Center. The main attraction here is going to the Top of the Rock to see the skyline of New York City. We got the VIP passes to avoid the longer lines and get to the top faster. Once you’re at the top, it doesn’t give you any added benefits. But since 2 days isn’t much time, we felt like this was worth the extra cost, so that we didn’t spend our precious time waiting in line.
Now, some people prefer seeing the skyline from the Empire State Building, and that’s a great option too. I like Top of the Rock, because you can actually see the Empire State Building (you know, because you’re not standing on it? LOL) The views are incredible any time of day, but just before and after sunset is really nice.
At the top, there are two different levels where you can see the city. On the 70th floor, we could see the skyline from both inside and out. Don’t feel worried if you’re scared of heights, however. The outdoor area has glass walls to prevent falling or jumping, and you can clearly see through them. If you want photographs, don’t fret; there are gaps in between the panes, perfect for positioning your camera.
We also went up one more floor, which is smaller in square footage than the lower floor, but offers additional unencumbered views. There are no glass planes here, but if you were to fall, you’d only make it back down one flight to the deck of the 70th floor.
Make sure to look north and see Central Park; to look west over the river to New Jersey, and of course, look south to see the Empire State Building as well as One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower) in the distance. The Chrysler Building can also be seen to the southwest. Unfortunately, its view is partially blocked by another building.
On the way there we stopped at the coolest record shop, and of course walked past Radio City Music Hall.
Junior’s
We had dinner reservations, but what trip to New York would be complete without cheesecake? So we went here…before dinner. It’s ok; we got takeout!
Junior’s has a bit of something for everyone, from the classic New York pastrami sandwich, to soups and salads, to full entrees like chicken parmesan or fish & chips. There’s really no way to go wrong at this famous NYC deli! The plain cheesecake was my favorite. Simple and perfect.
Times Square
From there, we headed on over to Times Square. There is always something going on here! We enjoyed several musician buskers and an incredible acrobatic dance troupe!
Nighttime in Times Square is like nothing else. There are bright lights and advertisements everywhere. Even during COVID, when the city itself wasn’t as busy as normal, this place was packed with people. The ball that is dropped every New Year’s Eve is visible year round, so make sure to find it when you look south.
The best thing about Times Square, in my opinion, is people-watching. It’s like nowhere else! If you want a photo, do what I did and follow the advice of NYCGo.com and take a photo from the top of the red TKTS stairs. I tried but the stairs were way too packed!
Dinner at Han Bat
We decided on dinner at Han Bat, also on 35th Street. This is a Korean restaurant that’s extremely authentic, with a friendliness among the staff that I found really pleasant. Delicious soju (liquor) and incredible food really made it a special meal. Also the portions are really large, so if you go, bring your appetite or be prepared to take a doggy bag to go!
Pete enjoyed speaking with the server and the owner, both of whom were from Korea. (He was a Korean linguist in the Air Force, and still speaks and understands a little.) We all enjoyed our food. We practically had the restaurant to ourselves because we barely got in the door before they stopped seating guests.
Day 3 – The High Line and our Flight Home
On our last day in the city, the girls wanted to sleep in. (Teenagers!) So Pete and I went to check out the High Line.
The High Line
The High Line is a park and walking path built where an elevated railway used to be. It is just under a mile and a half long, and stretches from Hudson Yards on its north end, to Chelsea on the south end. There are 11 entrances, and according to Wikipedia, five of those are accessible to people with disabilities. Obviously if you want to walk the entire High Line, like we did, you should consider starting at one end or another.
Along the way you’ll find art exhibits, vendors with all sorts of merchandise and food, and beautiful plants and flowers. You’ll have great views of the city and its skyscrapers to the east, and of Hudson River and New Jersey to the west. At the north end you’ll also want to view the Vessel, part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project, or even visit it if it’s open.
From there, it was time to head to LaGuardia and back home. We’d taken our rental car from Burlington, Vermont, through a total of five different states, and into New York City itself. It was a whirlwind trip, and we clearly all want to spend more time in NYC especially, on a future trip.
