NYC Travel Guide From True New Yorkers

NYC is usually in full buzz when summer comes around. This year, for obvious reasons, there definitely isn't going to be a lot of hustle and bustle around the city. However, that doesn't mean that you can't plan ahead for your future vacation or daily trip to the city. As native New Yorkers, we love the city and have a bunch of favorite spots we love to go to, that we feel are sometimes overlooked. As a result, we want to share some of our favorite spots around the city that we think you should definitely visit when coming to the city. 

*This is just a broad list of suggested places to visit while you're in certain areas. If you want more in-depth suggestions for things to do in certain areas, definitely check out our blog in the future for more area specific suggestions!*

Williamsburg:

                    Destinations:

     If you take the ferry down to Williamsburg, we suggest walking a couple of blocks over to Smorgasburg, a trendy food festival (open on Saturdays), then walking a bit more to Mister Dips. Not only is the food amazing, but the view too! Definitely a good place to go for a food adventure. Then, after you have finished eating, we recommend walking over to Brooklyn Bridge Park, where you can admire the view and relax. It truly is a sight to be seen, and you definitely don't want to miss out on it! Finally, after walking back to the ferry, we suggest hopping off at Pier 11, where you can stroll and shop around Seaport, and hang out at Pier 17. Definitely a fun way to spend your day!

                      Restaurants To Visit:

                                Mister Dips

                                       Smorgasburg

                                       North 3rd Street Market

Financial District:

                    Destinations:

    Before you even go to visit any of the classic tourist attractions, we suggest taking a walk down to the Staten Island Ferry. There, you can take a free ferry ride to Staten Island and admire the view of NYC and the famous Statue of Liberty! After you get back from your free ferry ride, we suggest walking alongside the water where you will reach South Street Seaport, an area with amazing restaurants like Industry Kitchen and retail stores.

 

    If you decide not to go to Seaport, you can walk up from the ferry and visit the National Museum of the American Indian (free admission!) and take pictures with the famous Charging Bull. You can also walk past Wall Street and visit the Stock Exchange. Once you feel like you're ready to leave, you can walk a few blocks where you'll reach an area with retail stores like Century 21 and Zara. Here, you can either decide to do some shopping or keep walking. Eventually, you will see a giant, white structure, also known as the Oculus, a mall with retail stores for any occasion. We also recommend paying a visit to Eataly, an Italian wonderland with options ranging from sit down dining to gelato and pastries, which is in a building next to the Oculus on the top floor.

 

    Finally, you can stop by Brookfield Place, a mall where you can find some amazing food or splurge on some of your favorite luxury brands like Burberry or Gucci! *Insider tip: there is actually an escalator in the Oculus that takes you to Brookfield Place!*

                    Restaurants To Visit: 

Industry Kitchen

Il Gelato

                                     Amazon Go Store

Shake Shack

Eataly

       Soho:

                    Destinations:

      Soho is hands down one of our favorite places in NYC. Whenever we have a free day, you can find us here strolling down the streets. When you're in Soho, there are many stores for you to shop at ranging from stores like Forever 21 and Brandy Melville to brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton. There are endless shopping possibilities in Soho. However, there are also many small restaurants and cafes to eat at. It's a bustling area, but some streets manage to still make you feel like you're in a completely different area with their calmer, less busy atmospheres. 

Restaurants To Visit:

                     Mariebelle

 Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream

                                      Laduree

                                      Boba Guys

                                      MacBar

                                      Prince Street Pizza

                                      Bar Pa Tea

                                      Cha Cha Matcha

 Coffee 'n Clothes

 

Chelsea:

Destinations:

      In Chelsea, one of the most popular things to do is walk on the Highline, an elevated pathway that goes up several streets and is like an elevated park. Also, there is the famous Chelsea Piers where you can go play a bunch of different sports like golf, with views of the Hudson River. However, if sports and walking aren't your thing, Chelsea also has plenty of retail stores where you can shop and a food market with plenty of options to choose from. If you do decide to go on the Highline, you will eventually reach the Vessel, a giant gold honeycomb looking structure. You can purchase tickets to walk up the Vessel and if you don't want to hike up the stairs, there is a mall right next to it with lots to do with good food inside. 

 Restaurants To Visit:

 Chelsea Market

 Starbucks Reserve Roastery

 Catch NYC

 Sugar Factory 

                                      LRoom Cafe

UES (Upper East Side):

                

                       Destinations:

       One of our favorite things to do on the Upper East side is visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art. With a generous admission price, The Met has everything ranging from ancient artifacts to modern, contemporary art. We are floored every time we walk in, and would definitely recommend visiting! It also is the largest museum in America, so you can never get bored! Then, after you have finished strolling around, we recommend walking over to Central Park. There, you can either have a picnic on The Great Lawn, or even rent a boat at the Loeb Boathouse. To finish off, you can go window-shopping on Madison Avenue, which is famous for its designer stores or take a stroll down 5th Avenue and visit the Plaza Hotel or Saks 5th Ave.

                        Restaurants To Visit:

                               Serendipity 3

                                      Mei Jin Ramen