The Big Apple

In April 2023 I headed to New York with my two teens to celebrate some special birthdays. I have been lucky enough to visit New York on many occasions but each time I discover new things, and it had been a good few years since my last visit. There is always so much to be packed into your few days in the Big Apple, but my top tip would be to purchase the New York Explorer Pass. With the pass you gain admission to your choice of either 3, 5 or 7 attractions from a selection of over 50 of the top city attractions. As well as saving you money, a few of the attraction entries will come with VIP line privileges that will save you lots of precious time.

Some of the attractions we opted for during our visit were:

Empire State Building - One of the top places to visit in New York is undoubtedly the Empire State Building, where you can get some of the best views of NYC. Scaling this famous 102-story skyscraper is one of the best things to do in New York, my teens just loved all the pics and insta photos with the panoramic views over the whole city from not one but two observation decks. Previously the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building stands a whopping 1,250 feet tall. Don’t worry about climbing the 1,860 steps; you can skip the lines with a fast pass and zip up to the top in one of the 73 elevators without breaking a sweat.

Brooklyn Bridge - The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best places to visit in New York. Stroll over this huge 1.1-mile-long suspension bridge spanning the East River for spectacular views over Brooklyn and Manhattan. Manhattan may be home to some of NYC’s most iconic attractions, but there’s plenty to do on the Brooklyn side, including Brooklyn Bridge Park and lots of places to eat and shop which are alot cheaper than Manhattan. Best time to go is early in the morning and less crowds.

One World Observatory and The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a must-visit NYC attraction. It honours the victims of the 1993 and 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, and two waterfalls mark where the Twin Towers once stood. They’re the largest of their kind in the USA. The memorial is free to visit and is one of the most powerful spots in New York. O would recommend you visit the museum as well as the memorial. It is a deeply moving experience.

Central Park - We just loved Central Park. We hired bikes and spent a few hours roaming around the park. Skyscrapers overlook you on all sides, yet it is such a peaceful and tranquil place. This bustling green space is truly the heart of the city. Home to gardens, waterfalls, bridges, and even music performances, Central Park may be the oldest landscaped park in the US but it’s the most visited for a reason. However, you choose to experience it, Central Park is definitely one of the best things to do in NYC.

Staten Island Ferry and Statue of Liberty - The Statue of Liberty is probably the most iconic of all the things to see in New York. Standing tall on an island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was originally a gift from France to commemorate the alliance between France and the USA during the American Revolution. We did they New York Harbour Cruise which was a lovely trip, and we got a close-up view of the Statue.

Hop on Hop Off city bus tour! You board 'The Ride' at Broadway and over the next 90 minutes are part of the most surreal sightseeing tour of Midtown. The seats on the coach are tiered, side facing with floor to ceiling glass windows. The idea is that you are the audience & the streetscape of New York is the stage. Two hosts provide a comedic commentary through the tour, however, what was most impressive was the street performers who appeared from nowhere specifically for our tour. One guy, dressed as a DHL Courier was casually walking along the footpath before suddenly beginning to sing & dance with his mic connected to the speakers in our coach. Since traffic moves incredibly slowly in Manhattan, most of the performers moved along with the coach. A really entertaining way of taking in Midtown….just don’t sit at the end of the row unless you enjoy audience participation!

We took in a show in Broadway. This is the second time I’ve been to see a show in Broadway. I would definitely recommend prebooking your tickets or you could spend the day queueing for tickets, and you may only save 30 dollars or so. Head to Little Italy for dinner for a fantastic choice of your typical Italian restaurants and is located just around the corner from Chinatown. Here you will find all the fake designer handbag shopping.

We did a shopping trip out to Woodbury common which is definitely worth doing if you are looking for a bargain or two.

Flying from Shannon was so convenient as you can clear immigration before take-off. Same applies to Dublin. We stayed at the Riu Plaza Times Square which was a lovely hotel great location off Times Square and so central to everything. We walked till we dropped over the few days. We had a wonderful few days and will certainly go back again there is always something new to see in New York.