In May 2017, my parents moved from my childhood home in Columbia, Maryland to the Upper West Side of Manhattan! Over Summer 2017 I got to spend four full months immersed in the city. I spent most days working at a coffee shop with locations in SoHo, NoHo, and the Flatiron District. My days off were spent checking off items on my NYC To Do List, which I have compiled and categorized here for your trip planning needs.

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Enjoy a View

Top of the Rock

For the best view of Manhattan by far, splurge on tickets for the viewing deck of the Rockefeller Center. Looking north, the entirety of Central Park is visible. Looking south, the Empire State Building dominates the skyline but the World Trade Center and the rest of the financial district are still visible at the tip of the island. Head up before sunset to secure a good spot because during the actual sunset people aren’t very generous with letting other people get a good look.

Brooklyn Bridge

Another perfect sunset activity. Take the subway over to the Brooklyn side of the bridge (High Street) and walk in towards Manhattan to catch the city at golden hour.

Staten Island Ferry

For a good view of the Statue of Liberty, hop on the Staten Island Ferry. It’s cheaper than tour boats and you’ll avoid scams. Alternatively, I also recommend the NY Water Taxi for a touristy day. You can hop on and off in Midtown, Downtown, and Brooklyn and they pass close by the Statue of Liberty.

High Line

The High Line used to be an old elevated train track in the city but was recently repurposed into a walkway and garden. It goes from 12th to 34th on the west side of Manhattan. The southern end is definitely nicer so I’d suggest starting the walk by Hudson Yards.

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Soak Up Some Culture

MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)

My personal favourite. Some pieces are maybe a little questionable (i.e. blank canvases or gurgling vats of mud) but there are also some real gems (I’m partial to Mondrian). You can also get through the entire museum in a few hours which is fantastic. Unlike the *cough* Met.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pretty famous so it had to make the list. It’s located right in Central Park and is absolutely MASSIVE. Go in with a game plan. If you don’t mind a bit of a wait, buy your tickets at the front desk where you can pay what you want.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

I headed to this museum on a rainy day and it took me by complete surprise. It was incredibly well done, very emotional, and extremely eye opening. My friend and I were so engrossed in it that we didn’t even realize we spent a solid four hours there. Would definitely recommend to Americans and foreigners alike.

New York Public Library

A beautiful building with lots of history. Some rooms are open to study and work in but the majority of people passing through are tourists. I stepped inside on a whim and did the free audio tour they offer.

Museum of the City of New York

Another beautiful building in the city. Located on the Upper East Side, the museum is the perfect length for my attention span. It goes through all of New York’s history from when it was New Amsterdam until today.

Broadway.. Or Off-Broadway.

Take a page out of my mom’s book and enter all the various lotteries for discount tickets for all the big shows. My mom scored tickets for my dad and I to see Kinky Boots. My favorite show of the summer was actually an Off-Broadway production called Kim’s Convenience done by a Canadian Theater Company.

On the subject of lotteries.. enter everything!! Even for TV shows. My mom has won tickets for Shakespeare in the Park, Weekend Update on the SNL set, and a handful of plays.

Bonus: The Guggenheim

I still haven’t made it to this art museum but it’s at the top of my list for when I go back. Saturday evenings after 5:45 admission is “pay what you wish.”

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Eat Something Tasty

Smorgasburg

In the summers, the city has an outdoor food festival on weekends where popular restaurants come to set up pop-up shops. You can get anything from Asian fusion to aesthetic fruit juice and it’s all DELICIOUS.

Cacio e Pepe

A cute restaurant with an even cuter backyard patio. They roll their pasta around in a huge wheel of cheese right at your table. 10/10.

Gasoline Alley Coffee

I might be a little biased from my brief stint working there, but I can honestly say it’s the best coffee place I’ve been to. The espresso is great, the chai is spicy, the iced coffee is frequently referred to as the best in New York, and the latte art is always on point. There are also a few ~celebrities~ that frequent the NoHo location.

Food of New York Tours

This food tour is a bit on the pricey side, but I would absolutely recommend it. A guide walks you through a neighbourhood of Manhattan and there are various stops along the route where you get to sample food. My mom and I did the Heart of the Village tour and were spoiled with artichoke pizza, burrata cheese appetizers, an Indian kati roll, a sit down meal at a Cuban restaurant, and sooo much more!!! It was heaven. I will not rest until I do every tour the company offers.

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Go Outside

New York Botanical Garden

The garden is all the way up in the Bronx so it’s a bit of a trek from Manhattan. However, the gardens are beautiful and it’s a breath of fresh air after months in the city.

Central Park

Central Park is big. Like really big. It spans from 59th street all the way up to 110th. The best way to see it all is on bike. When cycling, be sure to keep to your left and travel counterclockwise or risk death glares from locals like my dad. The most scenic areas are around 72nd or so. This is also where you can rent a rowboat on the Lake. Arguably not worth it but very fun.

Coney Island

For a glimpse of quintessential East Coast beach life, head to Coney Island. It has the boardwalk, the carnival, the fatty food, and fireworks every Friday during the summer.

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For the ‘Gram

Dumbo

Head to Washington Street in Dumbo, Brooklyn for a rather iconic street view with the Manhattan Bridge towering in the back. Be ready to shoo the other tourists out of your frame or photoshop them out.

Cha Cha Matcha

A cute cafe all over the city with a bright pink interior and the most aesthetic drinks you could hope for.

The Bagel Store

You can’t leave New York without having a bagel anyway, so you might as well make it a rainbow one.