New York City in the winter

New York never gets old and there’s always something new and mind-bending to discover. Apart from a quick business trip a few years back this was our first time here and although we wanted to check the ‘big ticket’ items off the list, we also wanted to find a few quirky and unusual spots. (Don’t forget to read our article on recommended coffee shops.)

The lowdown

Since we only had a few days, we structured each day as a self-guided walking tour. Here’s a quick overview of our itinerary:

Day 1: We arrived late in the afternoon, went out for burgers and walk around where we stayed in Midtown.
Day 2: From Grand Central station we walked to the New York Public Library (NYPL), the Chrysler Building, the International Centre of Photography (ICP), Radio City, we did the ‘Top of the Rock’ experience, and ended the day at a steak restaurant.
Day 3: B&H Photo was just around the corner from our hotel and as a photographer I couldn’t resist starting a day here! Afterwards we walked down to the Flatiron Building and took a taxi back up to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). You have to take a yellow cab whilst in NYC, right!? From MoMA we wandered through Central Park and visited the Guggenheim. The day ended with some late night bargain hunting at Century 21.
Day 4: Lower Manhattan is the business end of town and even on a Friday, was quite busy. We took the subway to Franklin Street (line 1 or 2) and first had a look around Tribeco, including Hook & Ladder 8 (see photo below) and then on to Tent & Trails (don’t miss it if you’re into outdoor gear), then walked via the World Trade Centre memorial, Wall Street, took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, and wandered over the Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great place for sunset, a pizza and to say farewell to this amazing city.
Day 5: Leaving day and we spent it searching for vintage markets and a visit to Greenwich Village. Check out the new markets popping up in Hell’s Kitchen next time you’re in town.

14 North Moore Street is home of Hook & Ladder 8, the headquarters of the Ghostbusters. Come on, which child of the 80’s wouldn’t want to visit such an iconic movie site!?

Art Deco detail in the Chrysler Building. The building isn’t open to the general public, but you’re allowed into the lobby at no charge.

The New York Public Library is running a really good photography exibition at the moment celebrating how people shared and stil share photographs over the years. Check out the web link below for more info.

Manhattan never goes to sleep and even in freezing temperatures the hustle and bustle of the streets were infectious.

This is the closest we got to Lady Liberty. New York is a tourist town, but there are loads of places to see and things to do other than the usual sites.

Highlights

Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. It’s free, but it won’t please those that wants to get really close to the statue. As you board make your way to the starboard (right side of the ferry with you’re back to Manhattan) for the best views.
Brooklyn Bridge was something special. It’s a bit tricky to find our way onto the bridge, but it was totally worth it.
The High Line is quickly becoming a New York must-see and it was a great way to walk off all those hamburgers and diner breakfasts.
The NYPL had a really good exhibition on whilst we were there, called Public Eye. It explores how society have been sharing photographs and images over the last 175 years. And best of all, it’s free.

A stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge is a NYC ‘must-do’ and as all great things in the city, free!

We loved Chinatown and a visit here can easily be combined with a walk over Brooklyn Bridge. It’s in the heart of the city, but it feels a world away.

Sarah exploring some options in the latest Lonely Planet guide for New York City.

Washington Square Park is somewhat quieter in the winter, but the leave-less trees did give us a better glimpse of the surrounding buildings.

We got a ‘Top of the Rock’ experience as a Christmas present and even though it was freezing up there, it was amazing. During winter there’s hardly anyone up there.

Viewing the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry is another NY freebie. You don’t get as close as some sources say, but it was our favourite outing of the trip.

The fine print

Arriving at JFK International wasn’t as daunting as people warned us about, but there are several options to get into Manhattan. The obvious choices are either a train or one of the several shuttle buses, but in the end we opted for a taxi as it was quite late already. The cost was in the region of $70 (including toll charges and a tip).
New York is expensive and you’re going to tip people. All the time. Get used to it from day one. But there are loads of free activities all around the city not to be missed.
Choose your hotel location around what you want to do. We opted for a Midtown location as we wanted to be central and basically walk out the door and be in the mix of it. From what we researched, Midtown has had a bad rap, but we think it’s picking up again as we had such a great experience. There are many interesting new restaurants opening and it’s a great area to just sit and people watch.

Published by Petrus