New York City Travelers Recommend

Ice skating is a popular and traditional holiday activity, and there are plenty of places to take part. Whether it's in Central Park at Trump Rink or Wollman Rink, at Bryant Park or at Rockefeller Center, the lights and whir of people skating to classic songs will be a delight. No trip to New York City during the holidays would be complete without seeing the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular either. The show is a holiday tradition, having been put on for over 80 years since 1932. As for New Year's Eve, Times Square is the place to be. It is, however, too crowded for many, so those looking for something more low-key can opt for a New Year's Eve cruise. The Empire State Building, one of NYC’s top attractions, turns red and green; most storefronts have themed decorations; jazzy tunes play in coffee shops and the general vibe is just a little bit nicer. Peruse the Holiday Markets at Bryant Park, Union Square or Grand Central and pick up some gifts.

Niagara Falls is located in what is known as the Finger Lake region of New York and is surrounded by countryside. A drive through this landscape is a delight, and from New York, many 2-day bus tours offer highlights of the region. While other summer tours take you into the mist of the falls on either the historic Maid of the Mist ferryboat, or by exhilarating, finger-biting jetboat. However for a truly unforgettable experience, you can fly to the falls and get a bird's eye view of the horseshoe shaped falls, before plunging in behind the falls in a glass elevator, or feeling the mist on your face with a brave ferryboat ride. Be sure to book early, however! The Niagara Falls from New York air trip routinely sells out.

Take a day trip or overnight tour and explore the capital of the USA. Traveling to Washington DC from New York you will pass through the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland before arriving at Capitol Hill, home to the Capitol, Senate and White House. You can choose unescorted or guided tours, day tours or overnight tours, from New York to Washington DC to suit your interests, travel style and budget.

Want to eat your way through New York City? Don't stop at pizza. Make sure to tour multiple neighborhoods to experience ethnic dishes brought over from all corners of the world by the people who emigrated to this city generations ago. The dishes come authentic or as a fusion with other cultures to reflect the modern melting pot that is New York City. Both versions are delicious and will leave you wanting to try more culinary pleasures the city has to offer.

Manhattan is where you’ll find the most tours and attractions, and it is the most heavily frequented by tourists. It is composed of a number of distinct neighborhoods with unique offerings. For example, while Times Square is where you’ll find flashing neon signs, giant billboards, themed restaurants, Broadway shows and actors dressed up as colorful characters, SoHo is known for its excellent shopping offerings. Brooklyn is the hipster capital of the world. Neighborhoods where at one time people wouldn’t even think of stepping foot into -- like Williamsburg and Bushwick -- are now littered with farm-to-table restaurants, craft cocktail bars, beautiful parks, art galleries, wineries, breweries, distilleries and venues offering fun things to do. Visiting Queens is like traveling the world in one day, as it is the most ethnically diverse borough with over 170 languages spoken. One of the most interesting Queens neighborhoods is Jackson Heights, or Little India.

First things first - book tickets in advance if you want to see a particular Broadway production (or any show, really). Broadway is number one for a reason, and visitors and locals alike vie for prime tickets. If you're a last-minute man, however, fret not: the Viator app can hook you up with seats a mere 3 hours before the curtain comes up! Good for Families Disney classics like The Lion King, Newsies and Aladdin are always a winning choice for families with young kids. The tikes will love following along with their favorite characters and songs while the parents appreciate the Broadway-caliber acting talent and set design. Longest Running They say that if you can make it in New York, then you can make it anywhere. In 'the city that never sleeps', you’ve got to earn your right to longevity. Shows like Wicked, Chicago, and Phantom of the Opera have rightfully earned their places on stage and routinely maintain 5-star reviews.

You'll experience the soul-stirring power of gospel music on this special visit to one of New York City's most vital neighborhoods. Join a local gospel choir for an energetic and inspiring morning performance followed by a soul food brunch. During your visit to legendary Harlem, you'll also hear stories from the borough's fascinating history and see its famous sights.

Visiting Amish country from New York City is one of the largest reversals of environment possible found anywhere along the eastern seaboard. There aren’t many places where you can find yourself grabbing a morning coffee among one of the most energetic city centers in the world—the pre-dawn hours still awash in a sea of neon lights—and only a few hours later be dining in a traditional farm house in a village with no electricity sharing the company of people living the same way as their ancestors did 200 years ago. Such is the case, however, on a day trip to visit Amish country from New York City. While the state of New York is home to its own set of Amish villages in the western part of the state, the Amish country most accessible from New York City are the villages found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a place where the honking of taxi cabs is replaced by the clip-clop of horses pulling your carriage down an old country road.

How did it all happen? How has hip hop developed in its birthplace and how has it in turn influenced the city? Spend the afternoon in Manhattan and the Bronx with a real Grandmaster and hear how early rappers turned funk and soul into something new. See the actual streets which spawned the look and the sound of hip hop and visit the Graffiti Wall of Fame in Spanish Harlem. Head to Harlem and immerse yourself in neighborhood’ rich, proud heritage, concentrating on the venues, clubs and stores which at first inspired, then played host to top hip hop artists, from the legendary Apollo Theater to Dip Set record shop. Discover how artists like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys broke down color barriers and took hip hop to the top of the charts, where it remains to this day.

You’ve seen it on television and movie scenes about families with fabulous wealth, but to truly get an appreciation for the Hamptons you need to see it firsthand. Walk the beaches with their sculpted sand dunes and marvelously opulent homes, and shop in chic, trendy boutiques with the summer sun on your shoulders. The Hamptons are a collection of towns approximately 100 miles east of the city, where celebrities, magnates, and business tycoons unwind from the city grind. Sip on wine at Wolfford Estate Wineries or relax on a Southhampton Beach, and peruse the shops of historic Sag Harbor while yachts cruise slowly offshore. When visiting the Hamptons from New York City, expect to spend about two hours driving from the city and across Long Island. Train, car, or guided tours are a couple of the options for day trips, as are the comfortable long distance buses that connect Manhattan with the town of Montauk.