There are literally endless things to do in New York City. From eating at one of the many restaurants, visiting museums and galleries, and taking a walk through Central Park (a must), there is always something to do. Even if you’re not into all that cultural stuff, you can still enjoy your time by going shopping on 5th Avenue or visiting the top tourist attractions like Times Square and Ground Zero. There’s really no excuse for boredom as long as you have some cash!
Central Park
Central Park is a must for everyone that visits New York City. There are so many different activities in this green oasis that it’s hard to choose which one you want to do first. The park has been kept beautiful with dozens of bridges, springs, small ponds where little fish swim around, and even an open-air theater! A walk or jog through the manicured trails would be a great choice. Along the way, there are plenty of benches to stop at and relax for a bit before going further into the park. If these options don’t sound good enough for you, there are also boat rentals, marathons run through the park, and ice-skating in the winter.
Times Square
For anyone who is used to the streets of New York City, Times Square may be an underwhelming sight. But for those who are new to this buzzing city, Times Square is one of the most famous places in all of America! The bright lights and flashing billboards everywhere you look will draw crowds from all across the globe. It’s a great place to walk around, buy souvenirs or cheap presents for your family back home, and maybe even take a picture with some costumed characters outside M&M Store or NikeTown.
Ground Zero
Even though Ground Zero is still surrounded by construction fences over ten years after 9/11, there are still plenty of things that you can do here. You can pay your respects at the memorial museum. You can also get educational tours from the nearby WTC Tribute Visitor Centers, which offer free guided tours of Ground Zero to learn all about 9/11 and its events in a proper environment!
A word of advice: if you decide to go on a tour, do it in the morning. The last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by long lines waiting just to take a picture at this somber place.
Museum Mile
Not far from Central Park sits Museum Mile, an entire section of Fifth Avenue dedicated solely to museums! In fact, there are nine different museums here that anyone with even a little interest can enjoy. Whether you have an appreciation for art or not, who could say no to the opportunity to go all out and visit as many museums as possible?
The Met is dedicated more towards people who really appreciate art itself. The works on display here are from some of the greatest artists in history like Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh! You can spend an entire day or even a few days just looking at all the masterpieces that fill every corner of this museum.
On the other hand, if you’re more into science and technology, there’s always the Museum of Natural History. This museum is one of New York City’s most visited attractions because it features everything under the sun! From life-size dinosaur skeletons to gemstones bigger than your head, you could probably spend hours learning about how amazing our world really is.
Statue of Liberty
Even though Lady Liberty isn’t actually located in New York City, it’s still easy to take a ferry out and visit this famed statue. You can also learn about everything that Lady Liberty stands for by visiting the museum inside her head! On the way over, you may even catch a glimpse of some famous New York City skyline like the Chrysler Building or Empire State Building.