Your top tips for a visit to New York!

15th February 2015

In last month’s newsletter we ran a competition asking you to name your top tips for a visit to New York. We were impressed by the depth, breadth, and variety of your suggestions… Here are ten of the ones we judged to be amongst the best:

Getting around

*Walk as much as you can, and when you are tired get onto a Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan Island. I did this 15 years ago and it stays happily in the memory – Flavia Woodcock

*Walk, walk, walk… and try to go at Christmas – it’s magical! – Lynn Jones

*Like the others said: walk, walk, walk and then (in Manhattan)… take the bus (great aircon if it’s very cold or very hot and you get to see the real New Yorkers), go to the Highline as early in the morning as you possibly can, take the free ferry to Governor’s Island in summer, and definitely don’t miss an exhibition at New York Public Library (they’re free) – Deborah Sutherland 

Events and things to do

*Radio City Music Hall in the Rockefeller Centre is an iconic  entertainment venue, particularly known for its Christmas show. This features the Rockettes, a high kicking ‘precision dance troupe’ who are known for their high level kicks – performed in five shows a day, seven days a week during the season! It’s unlikely (unless you plan well in advance) that you’d get a ticket for the Christmas shoe but at other times you can take a behind the scenes tour which takes you round the Art Deco building and you usually get to meet a Rockette at the end! great for all ages – Annie Thomas

*The Natural History Museum, the Planetarium, a trip on the Staten Island ferry, a game at the Yankee Stadium, and Chinese down at Pandas on first – Karen Duff

Eating

*EAT! New York is one of my favourite cities in the world and largely because of the vast array of unique places to eat. Where else can you find a shop wholly dedicated to Rice Pudding (Rices to Riches, Nolita), the first pizzeria in the US (Nolita), and a PB & J Sandwich restaurant (Peanut Butter & Co, West Village)? That said, after all that eating maybe you should also try a walk like many have suggested! – Stephanie

General

*Top of the Rock is the best view as you can see the Empire State from it – and the queue is wayyyy shorter. The Frick is an awesome art gallery in a Golden Age house on the Upper East side. Dean and Deluca for food inspiration and Whole Foods Columbus Circle for a Central Park picnic lunch. And only read books set in NYC while you’re there! Edith Wharton, JD Sallinger, Gossip Girl… the choice is endless – Rose

*Spend at least an hour sitting on a bench in Central Park and let the city seep into your bones – Julia Stagg

*Research, research, and plan, take comfy clothes and shoes – and a credit card! – Dawn Obrien

*Don’t try and do too much – leave plenty of excuses for a return trip! – Angi Holden

Thank you to everyone who took part! Some fabulous suggestions….

For a listing of all the books on the site that are set in New York, please click here!

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