NYC or New York, New York if You Prefer
NYC is not exactly a Hidden Gem. But there are some interesting Hidden Gems within the City. Cos is originally from New York City. He served as Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (DoITT) during the Bloomberg Administration. As a result, we have some inside information to share with you.
Travel Around the City
If you are not comfortable taking the subway around NYC, then you will be vaced with the congestion that occurs regularly on the city’s crowded streets. Therefore, we recommend you consider the subway. However, it is complex and it is easy to jump on a train that will not get you to your destination. Also, be careful when you travel. We don’t recommend riding on the subway at night.
As an alternative to get to know the city we recommend you try the Big Bus.
Times Square and Broadway
Times Square is certainly the center of NYC. Broadway runs through it, and so does the Theater District. We try to see at least one show every time we visit New York. If you want to learn more about Broadway and the Theater District please see our Famous Theaters Post.
Rockefeller Center
Okay, the Hidden Gems come later, but for the moment enjoy “The Rock“. Home to the famous Christmas Tree, the ice-skating rink with Promethius watching the skaters and Atlas holding up the world. The Rockettes perform here at Radio City Music Hall, and the Today Show, the Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live have their studios here. You can also travel up to the top of “The Rock” to the observation floor and even eat up there at the Rainbow Room.
Also, while you are visiting “The Rock”, there are a number of other fun things to do in the area. If you are a shopper, you will want to visit all the great shops on 5th and Madison Avenues. The Diamond District is close by on 47th Street. You should also check out St. Patrick’s Cathedral and perhaps the Museum of Modern Art.
NYC Central Park
A few blocks north of Rockefeller Center is NYC’s Central Park. This is a great place for a stroll through some beautiful scenery. Not having been overly familiar with the north end of the park, we took a tour in 2021 from Get Your Guide and really got to learn about and appreciate the more remote parts of the park. The lower end of the park, starting at 59th Street, is full of statues and other memorabilia. The Conservatory that runs the park has moved in recent years to install more balanced statues that appeal to a broader crowd than just old war heroes on horses.
NYC Chinatown
We head downtown to what we consider to be one of the best places in NYC to get a good meal at a good price. Heck, even McDonald’s is getting into the food business in Chinatown. Peking Duck, if done right, as shown on the menu, is one of Cos’s most favorite meals. The Peking Duck House, at 28 Mott Street is the best place to get a great Peking Duck meal. Check out Our Favorite Restaurants page for even more great places to eat in New York City and other great food joints around the world.
Lady Liberty
A trip to NYC is not complete without a visit to Lady Liberty in lower Manhattan. You must reserve in advance as ferry rides over to the island fill up quickly. Check out Trip Advisor for tours and tickets.
Most trips to the Lady also include a stop at Ellis Island which contains great stories about immigrants coming to the USA. If you are curious about some other Statues of Liberty around the world, see Planning a Trip France.
While downtown, you should also visit the 9/11 Memorial. This memorial captures the emotions and solemnity of this tragic event in a moving way.
NYC Outer Boroughs: Coney Island
Cos’s friends in New York City, would hold him in contempt if he didn’t at least mention one area that is perfect to visit not in Manhattan. At least at this point in building this blog, we will focus on Coney Island. On a recent trip in 2022 coming back from a long stay in Europe, Cos’s connecting flight was cancelled at JFK and he found himself stranded. So, since Robin had never seen Coney Island they decided to stay in Brooklyn and check out the famed amusement park. Here are some of the famous pictures including the original Nathan’s Hot Dog store.
