13 Touristy Things That Live up to the Hype
1. The Highline
We know it shows up on every “AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN NYC” list. But that’s only because it’s true.
2. The Brooklyn Bridge
It gets crowded on the weekends but walk it during the week at sunset and it’ll be some of the best pictures of your tip.
3. Grand Central
Look up! The ceiling here used to be covered in tar and nicotine from the days when everyone smoked during their commute. In 1998, a 12-year restoration revealed a beautifully elaborate ceiling. Find the spot in the far left corner that wasn’t cleaned to see the color of the pre-restoration ceiling.
4. Pizza
It’s true that New York’s pizza definitely lives up to the hype. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can pick up a “blow-you-away” slice from just anywhere. Understandably, the best pizza in town is a hot debate, but visiting Lombardi’s, Grimaldi’s, or Joe’s ensures you’ll get an awesome slice of ‘za.
5. Times Square
Before you stop reading, hear us out! If you’ve never been to New York City before, you have to at least see Times Square. We recommend going at night when you can marvel about the person who pays the electric bill every month. That said, we don’t recommend shopping, eating, or staying anywhere nearby.
6. Katz’s Deli
The best pastrami sandwich in town. Lines are long on the weekends but go during the week and it’s smooth sailing all the way to check out. Just don’t lose your ticket or you’ll be out $50.
7. Cabs
Everyone has a crazy cabbie story. Don’t you want one, too?
8. Nightlife
It might not be Ibiza but the bars and clubs are open until 4, and there’s always an after-hours party raging until the early morning if you know where to look.
9. Central Park
If you come from Colorado, or Yosemite, or anywhere else with national parks and rolling hills, maybe Central Park isn’t that impressive to you. But c’mon, you can’t deny that there’s something cool about walking through the same tunnel that McCaulay Caulkin ran through in Home Alone.
10. Delivery
Every time we leave the city, we’re astounded that places don’t deliver. Need a late night burger? A bottle of wine? Toilet paper? Done and done. 24 hours a day.
11. Window Shopping at Christmas
From Macy’s to Bloomingdale’s and all the way up 5th Ave, stores pull out all the stops around the holidays. They’re generally unveiled in November, right after Thanksgiving.
12. The Diversity
There’s more to New York’s ethnic corners than Little Italy and Chinatown. In fact, there are over 800 languages thought to be spoken in the city, making New York the world’s language density capital.
13. The Skyline
There’s a reason the skyline is featured in almost every movie and TV show about NYC: it’s epic. Check it out from vantage points in DUMBO, or from a sailboat on the Harbor.
