New York City is referred by many names such as the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, concrete jungle…..etc, it truly is difficult to define the city with one word. NYC is considered to be one of the most diverse cities in the world and happens to be largest city in the United States, with over 8 million people living here and ranked 10th most populous city overall in the world. New York is comprised of five main boroughs: 1. Brooklyn 2. Queens 3. Staten Island 4. Bronx and 5. Manhattan. With only 4 full days to visit the city, we planned our itinerary as efficiently possible, in order to see the main highlights of New York City.

In every city we visit, we try to venture off from the touristy areas and experience the streets like a true local and we even rode the subway.

1. Savour in the New York Cuisine

Pizza….Pizza….and Pizza was the highlight of our trip!! You definitely cannot miss trying a famous slice of New York Pizza. There are a variety of pizza joints in and around town and there really is nothing else in the world. We dropped by our two favourite pizzeria’s: Juliana’s in Brooklyn and Lombardi’s in Soho. Both pizzeria’s cook their pizza’s in an wood burning oven. These pictures truly speak to how good their pizza’s are.

Juliana’s Pizzeria location in Brooklyn. Be prepared for long line-ups during peak time as they do not accept reservations in advance.

Lombardi’s Pizza – “The first pizzeria in the United States est. 1905”

Doughnut Plant – Each doughnuts are handmade fresh daily, organic, without any preservatives. There are currently 6 locations in Manhattan. We happened to visit the first store created on Grand Street on the Lower East Side. The Brooklyn Blackout is our favourite and one of the most popular to try. There are vegan and gluten free options. Their specialty latte’s and coffee drinks are also one of the best I’ve tried. A great quick breakfast or snack to have on the go!

Gray’s Papaya – Juicy new york style hot dogs in which can customize your toppings including: ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, onions, relish, chili, and cheese. An excellent quick meal to grab when you’re on the go.

Shake Shack: A popular burger joint originally established in NYC as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Gardens, in 2001-2003, and now open to over 200 locations in the United States and international locations. Their burgers are truly one of the best I’ve tried.

Flour Shop – a fun treat to spoil the little ones to with in the Soho area. The surprise explosion cake, was quite a unique and tasty experience.

2. See the Bright lights at Times Square

Times Square is one of the most popular destination in the world that tourists sought after. You can spend a few hours here and easily be mesmerized with the bright lights and feel energized by the crowds. There is so much to see and do, shops, eateries, and entertainment to keep you occupied. Times Square encompasses several blocks of mid-town Manhattan, 42nd to 47th Streets, from Broadway to Seventh Avenue. Click here to see the full list of fun things to see and do in Times Square. The M&M, Hershey’s, Christmas in New York and Disney store are just some of the many popular shops at Times Square.

M&M World in Times Square

3. Visit the 9/11 Memorial & The Oculus

It’s been 18 years since 9/11 happened and yet, when you visit this historic site, you can not help but be filled with many emotions and memories tracing back to that tragic day. New York has done a beautiful job honouring those individuals who risked their lives to save many other individuals before them. No matter how much time passes, that moment in time will never be forgotten. If you have the time and opportunity, check out the museum. Here are the times and prices of the museum.

The Oculus

4. Ride the Staten Island Ferry and see the Statue of Liberty

New York is a destination that can get very expensive, so this is one perk to take advantage of if you are on a budget. The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry route operated by the New York City Department of Transportation and is FREE for everyone to ride to Staten Island and return to Manhattan. Just be aware that their may be scammers in the area offering to give you”discounted tickets” to ride the ferry and see the Statue of Liberty. Click here to check out the most recent schedules of the ferry.

5. Catch a Broadway Show

Over the years, Broadway became synonymous with New York City. You can be so overwhelmed with the variety of shows playing in New York and may need to make plans of what show may interest you the most. Click here for the current list of Broadway Shows. Budget saver tip: If you are flexible and don’t mind what seats are available, there are same day tickets available at up to 50% off at TKTS Discount Booths in New York City, including the flagship location in the heart of Times Square, the satellite booth at South Street Seaport and at the Lincoln Center.

6. Stroll through Central Park

Central Park is the fifth largest park in New York City and covers close to 3.5 km of land. There is a lot to see and do, so I would recommend renting a bike if you are able to do so for the day and if you want to cover as much ground as possible. Also there are boat rides available on first come first serve basis at the Loeb Boathouse. Boats are $15 per hour (cash only), $4.00 for each additional 15 minutes with a $20 cash deposit. Each boat holds up to 4 people. The Loeb Boathouse will provide life jackets. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Other highlights of the park include the Betheseda Terrace, Central Park Zoo, Sheep Meadow, and many more.

7. Explore the Hudson Yards and walk the High Line

Hudson Yards is located between 10th and 12th Avenues from West 30th to West 34th Street, in mid-west area of Manhattan is the up and coming neighbourhood. Condominium, shops and art galleries line the neighbourhoods streets. The popular art piece towering the area, is called the Vessel – “Comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs — almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings — the vertical climb offers remarkable views of the city, the river and beyond.” You are able to climb the stairs for free should you wish, but may need to book your tickets in advance during busy hours.

The Vessel

8. Catch the the Sunset at the Top of the Rock

The Rockefeller Center is another prominent landmark of New York City and is located in the middle of mid-town Manhattan. The plaza is a large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets. I would highly recommend booking your tickets to the observation deck (“Top of the Rock”), in advance during peak times. Click here to reserve your tickets in advance. Our other favourite shops and activities, in the area include the American Girl, FAO Schwarz and the popular ice rink (usually open in mid-October).

Atlas

St Patrick’s Cathedral

The amazing view of the Empire Building at the “Top of the Rock” during sunset hour.

FAO Schwarz – “Toy Store”

The Ice Rink at the Rockfeller Plaza

9. Check out D.U.M.B.O.

Now I know what you’re thinking… it must be named after the Disney movie, Dumbo, because it was filmed there! …nope! Dumbo (or DUMBO, an acronym short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the waterfront and cobblestone streets, eat some new york pizza, sip coffee in a trendy cafe, catch a ride at Jane’s Carousel, and grab some amazing photo opportunities of the Manhattan skyline. There are many endless amazing things to do and may need to set aside at least half the day.

Jane’s Carousel – cost is $2/ride

9½. Walk the Historic Brooklyn Bridge

Who knew bridges were so much fun! It was our first experience walking through such a historic bridge. The iconic Brooklyn Bridge took 14 years to build from 1869 to 1883 and was the world’s first ever steel suspension bridge built. The bridge has undergone several reconstruction over the years to accommodate the varying changes of transportation from horse drawn carriages to present day: vehicles, bikes and pedestrians. We woke up at the crack of dawn for a fun sunrise shoot and couldn’t believe how many other early risers there were. It was inspiring to see so many locals staying active, biking and running in their own city. One of the many reasons New York is dubbed as the city that never sleeps

Your loud, busy, boisterous and a city full of energy but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We love you NYC!! Regardless of how many times I’ve visited New York, there’s always a new and fun experience to be had. I’m sure we’ve barely scratched the surface this trip, but we’ll be back for more.