The sights and sounds of busy New York City are endless.
It truly is the city that never sleeps.
Its stores, restaurants, shows, museums and historical sites can keep you busy for days.
If you’re just visiting for a weekend or are lucky enough to have a longer time to explore the area you will have no issues finding many intriguing things to do.
While there are a lot of the regular tourist sites to be seen, there are also a lot of places that are hidden gems and well worth going to making the extra effort to see.
Top 10 Activities to do in NYC
- Bus Tours – While bus tours sound typically touristy, they are a great way to see a lot of places in a short period of time.It allows you to explore the city with a guide and an easy way to weave through traffic.There are various places to go such as Soho, the Empire State Building and Wall Street just to name a few.You can get off the bus at the places you want to visit and hop back on another when you’re done.
- Room with a View – There are many places within New York City where you can get a great view of the skyline.The main one is the Empire State Building.If you head to the 86th floor you can go on the observation deck and get a 360° view of the city.It is open to 2 am so you can see the city in all its glory at night as well.
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – This is one of the most iconic landmarks in New York City.New York was one of the more prominent ports welcoming immigrants over the centuries.Not only does it signal welcome to those coming to the US, but it also is a great place to see the city from just off the island.A ferry will bring you and back and forth to the island where you can either take a guided tour or simply go on your own.
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum – One of the newer sites to see is the memorial.It is on the former site of the World Trade Center.This particular attraction is informative and heartbreaking.You can see the lead up to the infamous day, what happened the day of and then days following the attacks.
There are stores, relics and pictures of indescribable depth and emotion.
The water features and lighting are something that has to be seen in person.
While this site is not one that brings the typical tourist reaction, it is something people should try and see at some point in their lives.
- Museums – New York City has some of the most is museums in the country.Their content range is huge along with having special events and great programming.The American Museum of Natural History in one that should be seen.It has 40 different exhibit areas, has a vast array of subjects that focus on a variety of sciences.
The Museum of Modern Art with its collections of recent at work and diversity of content.
It has classical art forms such as painting and sculptures as well as newer ones like photography and electronic media.
There is Van Gogh to Andy Warhol.
- The Met – This museum is a little different as it focuses on art history and the studio arts.It holds not only the “regular” type of artifacts but also more modern and contemporary.Not only is their timeline expansive but where their art comes from is global.Asian, African, Oceanic, Islamic and so much more.
- Water Touring – Many of us ignore that New York City is on an island.Surrounded by water, boat tours are great.The views are unlike any you will find on land and offer you a completely different perspective compared to the one you get while you are on the ground in the city.You will see the skyscrapers from a distance while also getting to take in other architectural masterpieces such as the Brooklyn Bridge and One World Trade Center
- Yankee Stadium & Madison Square Gardens – If you are a sports fan, these are a must.The tour of these sports venues takes you beyond the seats and into the areas you don’t see on TV.They show the depth of New York pride that this city has in its teams.The history of the Nicks, Rangers and Yankees is something any sports fan would find fascinating.
- Radio City Music Hall – A wonderful arts venue to not only see the iconic Rockettes but to tour behind the scenes as well.If you book a tour ahead of time, you can see the celebrity guest book, hear the stories and secrets of this old venue and how those stories played into the hall hosting some of the biggest and best performers from around the world.
- Central Park – If you want some outdoor time, Central Park can offer this.You can rent bikes on a nice day and enjoy their zoo, a paddleboat ride on the lake or just relax with a picnic.The historical content of the park is wonderful as well as highlights statues of writers along with a castle along the literary walk.
These 10 things to do in New York City only begin to scratch the surface of the many great attractions and events there are to enjoy in the area.
The UN, Times Square, Broadway are also ones of interest among many others.
While a weekend in New York is wonderful, staying longer gives you more time to explore and enjoy.
