It is hard to believe that April is right around the corner! That means more weddings, bachelorette parties, weekend adventures, and my birthday!! After last year and all of the events surrounding my birthday, I am determined to make this one of the BEST birthdays I have had. And how better to do that than to spend it in New York!! Megan and I are leaving on the train Friday afternoon to meet her bestfriend in the city for a long weekend and are not returning until Tuesday. Megan and Biz have NEVER been to NYC. I almost fainted when I heard this news, but knew I must make sure to include all of the tourists things while also enjoying the city. I of course first reached out to Jan, pharmacist by day, travel agent by night. She sent me the below suggestions and this is only the beginning. I am soooo excited to get away for the weekend, see the city, and explore with two people who have never been.
Ground Zero
They have completed some of the memorials and park area and I think it’s worth the trip downtown…while in that area walk over to the waterfront for a good view of the Statue of Liberty. The Winter Garden Atrium is a 10-story glass-vaulted pavilion on Vesey Street in New York City’s World Financial Center. It has a food court and restrooms …good lunch stop. The rear of the building opens onto the World Financial Center Plaza and the North Cove Yacht Harbor on the Hudson River…. there is a great view of Ground Zero from inside the Financial building.
Central Park
Take the Red Line to 79th street ( Or blue /orange B or C line to 81st street ) and walk East through the park on 79th street past the castle, boat pond and loop back south to the boat house and strawberry fields. We rented a pedi cab to take us back to the south end of the park which ended up being really fun… or you can walk around the upper West Side - The little Italian place you and I ate dinner is on 73rd street West of the park (Arte Cafe) Nice neighborhood for shopping and less crowded than midtown.
Rockefeller Center area
From the south end of Central park walk down 5th Ave to see all the fancy stores, Trump Towers, etc - its 10 blocks to Rockefeller Center . The NBC studio tour was fun (an inside acctivity if raining) but you might need advance tickets if you want a certain time. We went to the Top of the Rock at night and the view of the city was amazing. You can buy the studio tour and top of the rock tickets together on line and in the NBC store on 49th street.
There’s a fun rooftop bar at the Dream hotel 55th/Broadway… get there early or go back late (nicely dressed) to get past the velvet rope and up on the roof where there is a view down Broadway of Times Square.
Bryant Park area
There is a cool “roof top” bar at Bryant Park Grill (good restaurant also) - from Bryant Park you can walk west on 42nd street and then up Broadway through Times Square and Theater district
Brooklyn Bridge
I loved our walk across the bridge (green line to Brooklyn bridge/City Hall) and you can try again for a slice of pizza and maybe look for the flea market in Brooklyn.
