New York City Bucketlist

If I begin to jot down things to do in New York City the list will be an epic. there is no ending to number of attractions, neighborhoods, shopping avenues, restaurants and cafes. You are never tired walking blocks in New York but you are surely breathless taking pictures everywhere. I do wonder if i was a resident here every morning I will go out hunting abandon places and rusty bridges.

I shall be brief here to mention the bucketlist for the first timer. People usually love to vacay for a week when in NYC and that is actually best plan but we had to shrink our time to three days.

To make most of NYC without hurting your pockets always opt for subway. Please leave your car behind to avoid parking frustrations. Uber is ultra expensive so it is a big NO. Instead try big bus tour. We were travelling with a one year old kid and hence hopping on big bus was the best choice for us. For people with FOMO i will suggest buying a city pass. This will ensure skipping long que, maximising your time and saving money.

TIMES SQUARE

One of the iconic tourist spot people die to see it in real. It's very surreal to just stand there, surrounded by towering stacks of flickering neon billboards, the sounds, sights and smells of thousands of people all around you. This experience is available any day of the week. It's maniac, a bit frightening, and weirdly wonderful. The vibe of Times Square is actually quite similar to Fremont Street (Las Vegas), Piccadilly Circus (London), or Shibuya (Tokyo).

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

To think of Empire State Building is like visualizing the famous scene from 1933’s “King Kong,” which ends with the titular giant ape scaling the skyscraper and being attacked by swarming biplanes. The Art Deco building is in midtown Manhattan, on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. The Empire State Building is a 102-story^[c] Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and built from 1930 to 1931. Its name is derived from "Empire State", the nickname of the state of New York.

ROCKEFELLER

Rockefeller Center is undoubtedly the most crowded place in New York City during the holidays. Everyone, whether they live in town or are just visiting, goes to see "The Tree." Rockefeller Center is a great holiday destination with plenty of shopping, eating, and culture for kids of all ages. Visit The Lego Store for a little playtime, and be sure to check out the mini version of Rockefeller Center made entirely from LEGO bricks.
Head to the Top of the Rock observation deck to experience breathtaking views of the NYC skyline. Don't forget your camera. These are some of the best views in the City!

BROWSE BOOKS IN
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

It is one of NYC’s iconic Beaux-Arts style marble buildings. Its two marble lions outside the building are recognizable to millions of people.In addition to housing a renowned reference library, the New York Public Library is home to treasures such as a Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies” from 1623 and Mary Poppins’ umbrella.One of the library’s most prized possessions is an original print of the Gutenberg Bible, one of only 49 existing copies in the world!

RELAX IN BRYANT PARK

Bryant Park is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan just away from the chaos that is Times Square. The style of this beautiful and peaceful park was ‘French inspired’ - with the beautiful lawn, stylized wrought iron fence with gold highlights. Located next to the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is a wonderful gathering place for locals and New York visitors who want to relax, socialize, and attend fabulous events that are hosted in the park throughout the year.

Sometimes it's fun to spend a few leisurely hours sitting in the park, enjoying the weather and a coffee and people watch offering opportunities for catching up on work via Wi-Fi.

VISIT GRAND CENTRAL STATION

Grand Central Station was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1869 this station is a must visit to marvel at the great interior architecture and constellation ceiling. After an accident in 1902, steam trains were banned since it used to cause excessive smoke which blurred the driver's view. The electrification of the railway resulted in a new and larger station. The Schwartzman Building was dedicated on May 23, 1911, with over 1 million books and 75 miles of shelving put into place for its opening day. One of my most visited place here when i come to New York.

OCCULUS

Stop into marvel at the Oculus, the centerpiece of the World Trade Center Transportation. It is a train station connecting different subway lines and the PATH train to Jersey. It’s also a plaza and shopping mall. The Oculus in its crisp clean, unique design spoke of promise and lightness. I like the inside of it more than the outside.

VISIT STATUE OF LIBERTY

A visit to the Statue of Liberty is an iconic US experience and one of the most popular things to do in New York City for good reason. In 1865, a French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist named Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that a statue representing liberty be built for the United States. It was created by French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi who supported Laboulaye’s idea and in 1870 began designing the statue of “Liberty Enlightening the World.” Statue Of Liberty

WASHINGTON SQUARE

This park is located right in the heart of one of New York’s great neighborhoods, Greenwich Village. If you are looking for great free musical performances, Washington Square Park isn’t the only place in town. NYC has some of the best subway musicians, buskers, and performers.For those traveling with children, there are two excellent playgrounds: one for toddlers and one for elementary school-aged kids. If you are traveling with a dog (or just like to watch other people’s dogs, as so many New Yorkers do!) check out the dog run.

CHARGING BULL OF WALL STREET

It has many names: the Wall Street Bull, the Raging Bull, the New York Bull, the Financial District Bull or the New York Stock Exchange Bull. All are referring to the same statue, the Charging Bull in Lower Manhattan. The massive 7,000 lb. (3200 kg) bronze bull statue mysteriously appeared on December 15, 1989, in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The Bull was created by Italian sculpture Maestro Arturo DiModica who chose the bull as a symbol of the power of the American people. Standing 11-feet high (3.4m) and 18-feet long (5.5m), the Bull’s right foot lurches forward, toward Wall Street, suggesting he is on the move financially. His head is down and nostrils flared as he charges into the commercial area.

9/11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. and soar to the sky at the top of One World Observatory (Freedom Tower). Head northeast to new, revitalized South Street Seaport with stunning waterfront views, shopping, and historic buildings and tall ships.

WALK THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

One of the oldest of NYC’s three suspension bridges, the other two being the Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge, it was the longest steel-cable suspension bridge in the world until Scotland’s Firth of Forth cantilever bridge. Check out the link Walking the Brooklyn bridge to make the most of the scenic view of Manhattan skyline.

ENJOY A BROADWAY SHOW

Watch a broadway show. Wild as the jungle and colorful as the forest leaves the show was an eye opener. The stage changed in a blink from day to night from mountain to land it was worth believing. More beautiful was the characters dressed and painted in animal skins. I loved the sarcasm of Pumba and Timon and the entry of ravenous Hyneas. If you are looking for great deals on more premium Broadway show tickets, get them from TKTS

WALL STREET

Head over to Wall Street and take a Wall street tour or explore it on your own with our Self guided walking tour of Wall Street. Plan in advance for a tour of the Federal Resserve where a whole lot of gold is kept! While you are there, see the outside of the New York Stock Exchange, and though you cannot go in, this virtual our will show you what is going on inside this historical institution. Directly across from the Stock Exchange is the free Federal Hall monument. Climb the stairs and have your picture taken with a larger than life George Washington.

COLUMBUS CIRCLE

Explore the multiple places worth visiting near Columbus Circle, the Time Warner Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The shops at Columbus Circle and the newly opened subterranean mall, TurnStyle.

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, Christopher Columbus was honored here with a monument that measures 23 meters high. The monument in the center of Columbus Circle serves as a measuring point from which various distances to and from New York City are calculated!
Located at the Merchants’ Gate of Central Park, visitors can find the USS Maine National Monument, built in 1913, the statue honors the 260 American sailors who tragically died on February 15th, 1898 after the battleship exploded in the harbor of Havana, Cuba.

It features a limestone base sculpted in the shape of a ship’s bow and surrounded by figures representing Justice, Peace, Victory, Courage and Fortitude. On the top of the pylon, sits a large gilded bronze figure of Columbia Triumphant (Liberty Triumphant) leading a seashell chariot pulled by three seahorses, which are reportedly cast from metal recovered from the guns of the ship.

EXPLORE THE CENTRAL PARK

20 meters away from Columbus circle is New Yorker's favorite Central park. The fresh air, expansive views, and ample space for social distancing allow us to recharge physically and mentally during these unsettling times. It is the fifth-largest park in New York City by area, covering 843 acres (3.41 km²). The most visited urban park in the United States, the Central Park can be enjoyed all year round.