YEAR VISITED: 2005, 2016, 2018, & 2022

FAVORITE CITIES & EXPERIENCES: Any time someone asks me whether I would prefer to live in a ‘big city’ or ‘small town’ I answer “small town”. However, I do enjoy traveling to and exploring big cities. Jill and I have been fortunate enough to spend time in nearly every major American city and it doesn’t get any more major than New York City. While I enjoy The Big Apple, my wife absolutely loves it. If she could only return to one city, she would select New York City every time.

While we have both traveled to New York with our families, our first trip together came in 2004. We arrived in late December and were in Times Square for the 2005 New Years celebration. Our second trip to Manhattan came in 2018. We traveled there for my 40th birthday in March and spent a long weekend in the City.

We flew through the night and were able to get to the observation deck of the Empire State building on my actual birthday. Our most recent trip to New York, and first time for our daughters, came for New Years 2022. We spent four nights in Times Square and the highlight of the trip was watching the ball drop on New Years from our hotel room at the M Social.

There is no question that New York City is one of the culturally premiere cities in the world and we have fallen in love with the City that Never Sleeps. However, our first trip in 2005 started out rocky at best. We flew into LaGuardia Airport and made our way to the taxi line as we pre determined that we would travel via taxi from the airport to our hotel. Our final destination was, The Park Central hotel.

While standing in line we met a friendly NYC resident that lived close to our destination. We agreed to share a cab and everything was running smooth until our new friend was dropped off. The minute she departed from the cab, the whole demeanor of our driver changed. Roughly five minutes later we arrived at our hotel and the driver turned around and said, “that will be $75.” Prior to leaving the airport the agreed upon price was $60 from each party – as a result we declined to pay his increased rate and stuck with the original price of $60. We offered him $70, which in our mind was a healthy $10 tip. Unfortunately the driver refused our money, insisted we were shorting him, and then proceeded to lock the doors. For what felt like an eternity, we were trapped in the back of a taxi cab, while the driver insisted we “pay up.” Seeing as this was before the age of cell phones, we didn’t know what to do and I believe we caved and paid the extra $5. Needless to say we were extremely shaken for quite some time following the incident. Lucky for us the trip in 2005 quickly improved and we ended up having a blast exploring the City. Every other trip to New York City has gone off without a hitch and is now one of our favorite cities.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS:  In 2005 Jill and I took a tour of old Yankee Stadium. From 1923-2008 this stadium was regarded as the “Cathedral of Baseball” or the “House that Ruth Built”. The Yankees, one of the worlds most renowned athletic teams, have won a league record 27 World Series titles. Some of the greatest games in Major League baseball history were played in this stadium and some of the games greatest players wore the Yankee jersey.

Touring these hallowed grounds was one of the highlights of our trip. We walked the grounds, toured the press box, and spent time in Monument Park beyond the left field fence.

However, the absolute best part was getting to sit in the dugout and take pictures on the field. Following our tour, I don’t think I stopped smiling for days. While I haven’t attended a game at new Yankee Stadium, if it is filled with half the nostalgia as the old stadium it would be a home run visit for any baseball fan.

That same trip Jill and I saw a basketball game at Madison Square Garden. The famed New York Knicks were playing the New Jersey Nets. We sat in the third deck behind the Knicks bench. Besides seeing a crosstown rivalry game, in arguably the most famous arena in the world, the highlight was halftime as a group of gymnast’s used trampolines to pull off spectacular dunks.

ADVENTURE(S): Typically, our adventures in Manhattan begin in or around Central Park. We have strolled The Mall, sat on the steps surrounding the Bethesda Fountain, and stumbled upon the Strawberry Fields Memorial and the Imagine Mosaic. When visiting Central Park, no matter if you have a detailed plan of the sites or events you plan on experiencing or simply plan on wandering around, you can’t go wrong. I heard it best described as a “green heaven in the heart of one of the world’s busiest metropolises.”

My personal highlight of Central Park is taking a horse drawn carriage ride through the park. Jill and I took a ride in the evening in 2018 and the whole family took a day trip in 2022. There are multiple companies that offer this service and unfortunately I don’t recall whom we selected.

While chilly in the evening, a blanket was provided, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. Both times we were lucky enough to enjoy the approximately 1-hour ride through the south side of Central Park.

Another fun winter activity you can do in Central Park is ice skate. The girls did this in 2022 and appeared to have a blast. It is the largest ice skating rink in Manhattan and I believe the cheapest as well.

Located on the Upper West Side, adjacent to Central Park, is the American Museum of Natural History. This is the largest natural history museum in the world and contains everything from dinosaur skeletons, massive sea creatures, minerals, gems, and the hall of human origins. This museum is so massive and so interesting that no two trips are the same – you simply never know what you will stumble upon.

After seeing the movie, Night at the Museum, I stopped at each exhibit half wishing and half expecting statues, animals, and skeletons to spring to life. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, rest assured that the exhibits do not come alive after dark – I tried!

Sticking to our own advice of planning our adventures strategically based on geography, we continued North along the Upper West Side to Columbia University. Jill attended a week long conference here so she has naturally become fairly familiar with the neighborhood and landmarks.

Located 0.3 miles away, or less than a 10 minute walk, is Tom’s Restaurant. This real life diner was made famous as the setting for one of the best sitcoms of the 90’s, Seinfeld. Growing up this (show about nothing) was my favorite sitcom. Needless to say we felt compelled to visit and enjoyed a meal as if we were meeting up with Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine.

The last site we visited in this area was the Ulysses S Grant’s National Memorial located on the banks of the Hudson River. This is the final resting place of the 18th President of the United States. Growing up the joke, and I have no idea where it originated was, “who was buried in Grant’s tomb?” In elementary school we would ask the question, someone else would look at us like we were crazy, and then we would laugh. As crazy as it sounds, I never knew why. As an adult I wanted to visit and make sure that Grant was indeed buried in Grant’s tomb. After visiting, I can answer the above question with complete confidence, “Grant”.

From Grant’s Tomb we took a Subway back down to Midtown and Rockefeller Center. In our opinion, getting around Manhattan is easiest via subway. Our advice would be to purchase an unlimited use transit card for the duration of your trip, study the map in your hotel room, and just go for it.

Jill and I have ice skated in Rockefeller Center twice. Yes it is expensive, crowded, and the rink is small… but it is such an iconic location we didn’t care about any of it. In 2005 we took a few laps around the ice before the rink was cleared for the Today Show, which films adjacent to Rockefeller Center, and Olympic Ice Skating Champion Brian Boitano. Needless to say Boitano put on a show.

He performed a scaled down version of his routine and was then interviewed by Matt Lauer on the ice. It was a pretty cool moment standing in the crowd witnessing Boitano’s performance knowing 1) we were just on that same ice and 2) that the event that we were witnessing was on TV and millions of people were watching at home. In 2018 we once again visited this iconic location. We did our best to ice skate and take in the New York City vibe. If visiting in the winter, ice skating should be on your ‘to-do’ list.

Although crowded, another must do winter activity is to take in the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. It typically stands nearly 100 feet tall, is wrapped in 50,000 lights, and shines bright nearly the entire month of December.

In 2005 we took a tour of NBC Studio’s, which are located at Rockefeller Center (30 Rock). The tour lasted around an hour and the highlights were getting to see where Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show is filmed.

Within five minutes of Rockefeller Center is Radio City Music Hall. This grand venue has hosted award shows such as the Grammy’s, Tony’s, MTV, the NFL Draft, and many of the biggest stars in music. Jill and I saw the world famous Rockettes which have been performing at Radio City Music Hall since 1932.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is located on 5th avenue and is the largest Cathedral in the United States. The church has a seating capacity over 2,000, an organ with over 7,000 pipes, and services are held daily. However, the architecture alone is a reason for a visit.

By far one of the highlights of visiting New York is the Broadway shows, which are widely regarded as some of the best productions anywhere in the world. Jill and I have seen Aladdin, Book of Mormon and The Lion King (she has also seen Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Wicked, and Miss Saigon) on Broadway. While I admittedly don’t overly enjoy musicals, I thoroughly enjoyed each production I have seen on Broadway. Whether you plan ahead and purchase tickets to your favorite show or purchase discount tickets the day of, it makes no difference as Broadway is always a first class production.

Like Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, or Yankee Stadium… no trip to New York City is complete without visiting Times Square. It is located in the heart of Midtown, an estimated 330,000 people pass through daily, and its bright neon lights can actually be seen from space. There is nothing else like it.

We have made a point to walk through Times Square every time we travel to Manhattan. Our two most memorable visits were in 2005 and 2022 when we were in Times Square for New Years and were able to see the ball drop. In 2005 we stood out in the street and joined an estimated 1.2 million people.

Luckily the weather cooperated but it was still necessary to join the crowd by 2:00 in the afternoon and yet we were still roughly eight or nine blocks from the center of the square. While this is one of the most iconic locations in the entire world to ring in the new year, it does present a number of challenges. The biggest is the fact that once you join the designated viewing area you are not allowed to depart for any reason (including if you need to use the restroom). Somehow we managed to hang out in the street, where the temperature hovered in the low-40’s, for eight hours to enjoy the midnight festivities. In 2022 we decided to get a hotel in Times Square with a view of the ball drop. Therefore we decided to stay at the M Social and were lucky enough to watch the ball drop from our room on the 28th floor.

The hotel was located in the middle of everything and served as a perfect home base for our many adventures.

After four days of sightseeing from sun up to sun down, being able to relax in your room while still taking in such an iconic sight was extremely welcomed. Both experiences were unforgettable and something I would recommend people try at least once.

Hands down the most famous transportation terminal in the country is Grand Central Station. Whether you are looking to board a subway, shop at one of the 50+ stores, or simply admire the architecture, this is a Manhattan location you should definitely make a point to visit.

Across the street from the 9/11 Memorial is the Trinity Church. During the American Revolution, George Washington was one of the handful of Revolutionary founding fathers that worshipped here.

Alexander Hamilton is another famous revolutionary that is buried in the church’s graveyard. In the month’s that followed the devastation of September 11th, firefighters and volunteers alike slept in the pews and the floor of this church after working all day clearing debris and rubble.

The Stanton Island Ferry is a free service provided by the city of New York. The walking Ferry connects Stanton Island with Manhattan where an estimated 22 million people a year travel to and from the city via ferry. For a tourist, the ferry provides fantastic and free views of the city as well as the Statue of Liberty.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend more time here, but Bryant Park is a fun place to spend an afternoon. It is known as Manhattan’s Town Square and in the winter there is an ice skating rink, food court, and Christmas shopping booths.

A popular New York photo destination is in front of the Flatiron building at 175 5th Ave. The distinctive building is a 22-story triangular complex and as been referred to as, “one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers and quintessential symbol of New York City.” Unfortunately, when we were there it was undergoing construction. While we were still able to snap a photo, it definitely didn’t stand out in all it’s usual glory. The Beaver Building, located at 1 Wall Street Court, is another iconic triangular building you can visit in the Financial District.

Unfortunately, inside tours of the New York Stock Exchange haven’t been opened to the public since September 11th, 2001. However, walking outside of Wall Street adjacent to the world’s largest stock exchange should still be a destination for New York tourists.

The Wall Street Bull is another iconic location to visit. Unfortunately, for us each time we have attempted to visit it’s been so busy we haven’t gotten close enough to snap a picture.

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: The Empire State Building is the most iconic skyscraper in New York and probably the United States. At the time of it’s completion in 1931, at over 1,400 feet tall, it was the tallest skyscraper in the world.

There is no question that the Empire State Building should be at the top of your to-do list when visiting New York City.

Personally, Jill and I had both grown up watching blockbuster movies such as “An Affair to Remember”, “King Kong”, and “Sleepless in Seattle” where this famous landmark was always featured. As a result both of us always wanted to visit. We did just that for the first time in 2005. However, by far our coolest visit came in 2018 when we celebrated my 40th birthday from the 86th floor’s open air observatory.

Following my birthday tour of the Empire State Building, we headed to our dinner reservations at 230 5th Rooftop Bar. We enjoyed dinner, drinks, and direct views of the Empire State Building all lit up at night. The best part was we enjoyed our evening from a clear igloo/bubble which effectively kept us warm while still providing breathtaking views.

This location and outdoor bar is surreal – I can’t imagine a better place to post up and enjoy the ambience of New York City. In fact we enjoyed it so much we made a point to return with the whole family in 2022.

Other restaurants, bars, and eateries that we have dined at and thoroughly enjoyed in Manhattan are the Hard Rock Cafe, Tavern on the Green, The Original Soupman, Katz Delicatessen, Rockefeller Centre Plaza, Grand Central Oyster Bar, The RagTrader and the Fraunces Tavern. The Hard Rock Cafe has since moved locations to Yankee Stadium and Times Square.

Tavern on the Green is a fantastic tourist experience located adjacent to Central Park. Jill and I had lunch there in 2005 and we made reservations for brunch in 2022. Hands down they served the best bacon I have ever had.

The Original Soupman is the establishment that the TV show Seinfeld based their ‘Soup Nazi’ character off of. Both times I have eaten there I have ordered the Lobster Bisque and my stomach couldn’t have been happier.

Katz Delicatessen was featured in the movie “Harry Met Sally” (“I’ll have what she’s having”) and serves (still to this day) the best pastrami sandwich I have ever eaten.

Rockefeller Centre Cafe is located adjacent to the ice skating rink. We had brunch there in 2018.

Grand Central Oyster Bar is located in Grand Central Station. You can eat in the dining room or the bar and both settings come with iconic Grand Central Station views.

While we unfortunately had to cancel our reservation, the RagTrader is a restaurant that I was excited to experience in 2022. It is based out of a old garment factory near Midtown. Downstairs is a former speakeasy, which is now a piano bar. I look forward to checking out this establishment.

The Fraunces Tavern is a historical landmark and played a vital role during the Revolutionary War. American hero’s such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton frequented this establishment.

In the same vicinity as Fraunces, is Adrienne’s Pizza Bar. It is located in the heart of the Financial District on a cool street with multiple other fun looking establishments.

In 2018 we were in New York for St Patrick’s Day. As a result we purchased tickets for the ‘Top of the Morning’ breakfast at McFadden’s Irish Pub. This entitled us to a buffet style breakfast and unlimited draft beer. It was definitely an entertaining way to start the day.

While we have yet to venture into Brooklyn, we have walked the Brooklyn Bridge, which spans across the East River. Located in the Lower East Side, at the time of its completion in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The day we visited we were lucky to have beautiful weather – which afforded us gorgeous views of not only the historic bridge but also the New York skyline.

Sadly, I will never forget the details of my day on September 11th, 2001. Roughly 3,000 miles away from New York, Jill and I spent that fateful day glued to the television screen as we watched in horror as the Twin Tours came crashing down in the most horrific terrorist act ever committed against this country. Since then we have had three opportunities to pay our respects and visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The first came in 2005 where we were able to take a peak at the unfinished construction.

The second and third visits came in 2018 and 2022 where we were able to see the finished memorial. While it is difficult to adequately put into words, on both visits a tremendous sense of patriotism and sadness washed over me as the details of that fateful day instantly came racing back.

While I don’t love heights I am usually a good sport. In 2022 I let the girls talk me into purchasing tickets to The Edge (a skyscraper with a plexiglass encased deck on the 91st floor).

We walked out on the observation deck, took pictures against the plexiglass window, and the girls even stood on the glass bottom floor. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, when we visited we were nearly entirely fogged in. While this drastically cut into the ‘one of a kind views of Manhattan’ the experience was truly unforgettable.

No other location or destination better represents America and the symbol of freedom than the Statue of Liberty. France presented the United States this gift in 1896 and it has welcomed visitors to New York Harbor ever since.

Every American should visit this sight at least once in their life as you can’t help but feel patriotic as you stare up at Lady Liberty’s torch. However, when visiting make sure you plan ahead as this is consistently one of the top-5 most visited tourist destinations in the world.

On average 3.5 million people visit Lady Liberty every year. We lucked out and purchased a ticket for the first tour of the day. Our ticket entitled us to a pedestal tour, museum tour, and a stop at Ellis Island. The Ellis Island portion of the tour allows you to look up the registry of immigrants that came through their doors. If you take the tour, come prepared with names of your relatives you want to look up.

Again, we were lucky and completed the entire tour in under three hours. Plan ahead as this can easily take all day. One of New York’s newest attractions is the Vessel.

It was opened in 2019 and is located in Hudson’s Yard. It was built in a unique honeycomb type shape and is 16-stories tall. There are 154 flights of stairs and each staircase appears to run into the next. Normally the public has free reign to the attraction but unfortunately it was closed when we visited. Even if we didn’t walk all over the Vessel, it remains one of the prettiest and definitely one of the most unique attractions we visited in New York.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Game at new Yankee Stadium
• Game at Citi Field (Mets)
• Coney Island
• Brooklyn
• New York Public Library
• The High Line