Some of My Favorite Things in NYC
Six New York City stops I would book again, from a harbor cruise on the first night to the museums, observation deck, and lasagna worth planning around.
New York needs a plan. It does not need every minute scheduled. The parts I still think about are seeing the skyline from the water on my first night, looking out from the Empire State Building the next day, and spending enough time in a museum for one strange detail to stick with me.
These are six things I would build into a first New York City trip. They give you big city views, museums, a fun afternoon, and one dinner I would absolutely repeat.
Start With a Harbor Lights Cruise
Put the NYC Sunset & Harbor Lights Cruise with Statue of Liberty on your first evening in New York.
You get the skyline, some city history, and a close view of the Statue of Liberty without giving up most of a day to visit the island. It is also a calm way to start a trip before you spend the next few days in crowds and on busy sidewalks. Our guide, Dave, said, “The city has 8 million people, we’d love to have another neighbor.” That stayed with me. New York can look intimidating from a distance. From the boat, it felt welcoming.
I went around Halloween. The daytime weather was comfortable, but the open top deck became genuinely cold once the boat was moving. Sit outside if you want the clearest views. Bring a warm coat so you can stay there long enough to enjoy them.
Choose the Empire State Building Over Summit One Vanderbilt
The Empire State Building Observatory and Museum is my favorite observation deck in New York. I would pick it over Summit One Vanderbilt every time.
Summit One Vanderbilt was the first deck I visited because its photos were everywhere online. I liked it. The mirrored rooms and floating silver spheres look great in pictures. The Empire State Building was better by a wide margin. It has the history, the open-air deck, and the view that makes New York look like New York.
You cannot see the Empire State Building while you are standing on it. That is the one tradeoff. Choose Summit if you want the newer photo experience. Choose the Empire State Building if you care about the city’s history and want an observation deck that feels connected to it.
Give the American Museum of Natural History Half a Day
Book at least half a day for the American Museum of Natural History. It is much bigger than it looks, and a rushed visit is not worth it.
Kids will have plenty to look at, though adults should not treat it like a children’s museum. The planetarium show was worth the extra time. Take the subway instead of defaulting to a car or rideshare. The mosaics in the station are beautiful, and they make the trip there feel like part of the visit.
Spend Time at MoMA, Even When the Art Seems Ridiculous
The Museum of Modern Art is my favorite of New York’s major museums.
One of my favorite moments there involved a snow shovel hanging from the ceiling. A woman standing nearby looked at it, shook her head, and laughed at how ordinary it was. I had never seen a snow shovel in real life. Hardware stores near me do not even sell them. That difference is what makes it modern art. The original artist had not seen one before either.
MoMA is better when you let it be uneven. You will love some rooms and walk straight through others. You may spend more time with a piece that looked ridiculous at first than with a famous work you expected to love. That is a much better visit than trying to agree with every label on the wall.
Go to the Color Factory for a Playful Afternoon
Color Factory is a great choice if you like immersive art and color. It is an easy break from the more serious museums.
The installations are fun, and the neighborhood is worth exploring after you finish. Cameras throughout the museum capture your visit automatically. You get a QR code to access the photos afterward, and the images were surprisingly high quality. It is a much easier option for a group that wants good photos without asking one person to take them all day.
Order the Lasagna at Cafe Fiorello
At Cafe Fiorello, order the lasagna.
It is listed for two people, and that description is accurate. We had leftovers, saved them, and ate them the next day. They were still excellent. I would plan a dinner around this instead of treating it like a convenient meal between attractions.
If you are visiting the Upper West Side, make the reservation and arrive hungry. Even if it's way out of the way, it's worth it! We were able to make it just fine after a broadway show!
Build Your Days Around a Few Strong Choices
New York has enough famous places to fill every hour. Do not try to see all of them.
Choose one experience with a wide view of the city, one museum that actually interests you, and a meal you are excited about. Leave the rest of the day loose enough to walk, take the subway, and notice what is between your reservations. That is when New York starts to feel like your own trip.