Explore the neighborhoods, get some local flavor and spend 48 hours discovering another side of New York City, a place that demands multiple visits as it’s constantly evolving and reinventing itself. Aside from the ever-changing activities and attractions, the city’s sheer size means you can’t capture it all in one visit, even if you tried. If the Statue of Liberty is already checked off your bucket list, this itinerary is exactly what you need.
You don’t need to stand in line for a ferry ride to see a copper statue or fight the massive crowds just to get a glimpse of a famous building facade. Instead, spend more time checking out the culture, history and flavor that make New York City pulse with undeniable energy.
Make Midtown your ultimate home base
Staying in Midtown might sound counterintuitive if you want to avoid throngs of tourists, but it’s a smart move for a quick 48-hour trip. Midtown is the geographical center of the action, making it easy to get pretty much anywhere you want to go.
Midtown is also walkable to the subway, which makes getting around simple, and you have easy access to Times Square and Central Park right outside your door. It’s a safe and populated area, so you can explore from morning to night.
The hotel options here cover all sorts of price points to fit whatever budget you’re working with. If you want a fun and funky boutique vibe, you can book a room at Staypineapple, which offers quirky decor and ridiculously comfortable beds. If you prefer a traditional large-scale experience right in the middle of the bright lights, the Marriott Marquis is a fantastic option with sweeping views of the city below.
Master the subway system with your phone
Forget taking cabs, because the gridlocked traffic will eat up your precious vacation time and run up a massive bill. The subway is faster and cheaper than any other transit option available.
Many visitors find the underground transit map intimidating, but getting comfortable using the subway is surprisingly easy today. Your phone can guide you throughout the city using public transport, or you can also walk wherever you want to go.
The days of buying a physical MetroCard pass or fumbling with kiosks while people wait behind you are gone. Simply scan your mobile wallet at the turnstile, and walk right through to the platform. The system is smart enough to automatically know if you have a free transfer as long as you use the same card or digital wallet within the allotted time period. It takes all the stress out of navigating the underground maze and makes you look like a seasoned New Yorker.
With the subway as your friend, it makes it even easier to find the more unique options in New York City. The best part is that, as expensive as it can be to visit, there are plenty of free activities you can find, too.
Taste the real city on a food tour
We all know about the dollar slice and the amazing New York cheesecake, but there are many neighborhoods worth exploring with specific flavors and family-owned businesses that have been around for decades. One of the best ways to do this is through a guided walking food tour.
I have done two different Ahoy New York Food Tours, and I cannot recommend them enough for travelers who want to eat like locals. They take you through vibrant neighborhoods like Chinatown or Nolita to sample the area’s notable flavors. It’s more than just stuffing your face with incredible dumplings, fresh pasta and sweet pastries.
The knowledgeable guides discuss the neighborhood’s history, so you get a true sense of the immigrant populations that built these streets. It is the perfect blend of education and indulgence that leaves your brain and your stomach full.
Venture outside the borough of Manhattan
It’s easy to spend all your time on just one island, but it’s well worth visiting boroughs outside Manhattan. Brooklyn is the perfect place to start your outer borough adventure.
You can begin your morning with a gorgeous walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the skyline views and grab some iconic photos before making your way deeper into its neighborhoods. Spend a few hours getting lost in the incredible art and historical artifacts at the Brooklyn Museum, which is often much less crowded than its Manhattan counterparts.
You don’t expect a ton of greenery in New York City outside Central Park, but the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden is worth a visit any time of year. Similarly, the New York Transit Museum is housed in Brooklyn, where you can have a hands-on exploration of the city’s public transportation history, from exploring a 1936 subway station to sitting behind the wheel of a bus.
After all that walking, you definitely need to stop for a meal and a cold pint at Eckhart Beer Company. It’s a wonderful local spot with huge portions of German food and craft beers brewed on-site that give you a taste of the laid-back Brooklyn lifestyle away from the frenetic pace of the big city.
Discover the secrets of Grand Central Station
You need to visit Grand Central Station even if you’re not taking a train anywhere. The building features gorgeous Beaux-Arts architecture that will completely take your breath away the second you look up at the celestial ceiling in the main concourse.
Make sure to find the famous whispering gallery located near the lower-level dining area. You can stand in one corner and perfectly hear a friend whispering in the opposite diagonal corner, thanks to the brilliant vaulted tile work.
Once you’re done playing with the acoustics, head to the dining concourse. There are great places to eat, like the iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, which feels like you found a secret side of New York most tourists miss. This truly authentic New York-style restaurant offers so much more than oysters and features a massive menu of fresh seafood in a stunning subterranean dining room.
Go for a package deal when seeing the sights
New York City can be almost ridiculously expensive, but using a CityPass is a convenient way to help you visit iconic destinations at a significant discount because there’s no way you’ve seen them all in your previous visits. The standard pass is valid for nine days after your first use and takes the pressure off of rushing from building to building.
The pass automatically includes admission to the Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History. After those two venues, you can select three additional attractions from a curated list of the best spots in town. I highly recommend picking the Guggenheim, the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck to round out your cultural experience.
The view from the Top of the Rock is better than any other because you actually get to see the Empire State Building in your skyline photos. However, if you’re only in town for a short 48 hours, that pass might feel like too much of a commitment. Instead, you can grab the C3 pass, which lets you choose any three attractions that may be more suitable for a shorter visit.
Catch a show without paying full price
No trip to the city is complete without seeing a brilliant stage production, even if you’ve seen one or three before. While watching a massive Broadway show is a classic experience, know that there are exceptional off-Broadway alternatives that offer phenomenal acting in more intimate, affordable theaters.
Don’t panic if you didn’t buy tickets months in advance. While the most popular shows are often sold out, it’s easy to get tickets last minute by waiting in line at the TKTS booth in Times Square or downloading rush ticket apps directly to your phone. You can often score incredible orchestra seats for a fraction of the original price if you’re willing to be flexible about what you see on any given night.
Don’t get stuck with the same old touristy attractions
Forty-eight hours go by in an absolute flash, but this itinerary gives you the feel of the city’s heartbeat. By mixing historical locations, incredible local food and a trip across the river, you get a well-rounded adventure that skips the boring tourist lines. Grab your most comfortable walking shoes, charge up your mobile wallet and get ready to fall in love with New York City all over again.
Michelle Price is a food and travel writer at Honest and Truly who almost has an empty nest. She loves to provide both the inspiration and the confidence you need to help get you into the kitchen and on the road to enjoy new flavors and experiences.
The post 48 hours in New York City beyond the basics appeared first on Food Drink Life.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.