New York City has always been a favorite city of mine. I used to travel here on business when I worked with Saks Incorporated and regretted not moving there after college like so many do. So when my sister was to be in NYC on business I jumped at the chance to visit. I ended up going with my mom and 12 year-old niece to visit my sister the week of July 4th.
Waldorf-Astoria Towers
We arrived in the city and immediately checked in at our hotel, Waldorf Astoria Towers, which is a very historic and iconic property located in mid-town. We then headed off for lunch at Carmine’s Deli and an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing. We shopped on 5th Avenue at Saks, H&M, Henri Bendel where I got a makeover, and ended the afternoon at The Plaza where I did a site visit.
Apple Pie Sundae – Serendipity 3
Dinner that evening was at Serendipity 3 where we dined on American favorites and ice cream! If you don’t want to wait forever for a table then you need to make a reservation for dinner. The restaurant is in an old Brownstone and is at least 2 stories tall. Afterwards we visited Dylan’s Candy Bar because we had apparently not had enough sugar! If there is any sort of candy then you can find it here.
Times Square
The next day I toured several other properties while the rest of the girls headed to Battery Park, the 9/11 Memorial, and took in a show on Broadway. A little tip for those who like the shows that if you wait by the stage door after the show you have a great chance of meeting the actors and getting your picture taken with them. My niece was so smitten by Broadway that she and my Mom bought tickets at the TKTS booth that evening for a showing of Cinderella. This is a great option for those with a loose schedule and a tight budget because many of the tickets are deeply discounted. My sister and I then met them in Times Square so my niece can truly appreciate the city that never sleeps. We visited the M&M store, Hershey’s store (picking up a theme?), and then stopped by Roxy’s for some take-home cheesecake.
Me and the “Girls” in Central Park
The following day we decided to hit Central Park where we took a rickshaw ride through the park and saw the zoo, fountain, Strawberry Field, the Sheep’s Meadow, and various other famous locations. This was a great way to view the park on a hot day.
View of Empire State building, Freedom Tower and Statue of Liberty from Top of the Rock Observatory
In order to see the city from above, we headed to the Top of the Rock observatory. I believe this is a better way to view the city because you actually get to view the Empire State building. Afterwards we did more shopping and ended the day with a Mexican dinner of margaritas, guacamole, and other specialties. We tried to watch the fireworks from 49th street near the Hudson River but we really didn’t get a great view. If you’re interested in seeing fireworks on July 4th in NYC then I suggest both planning months in advance and purchasing entrance to a party on a roof or head to New Jersey.
Louis Vuitton – SoHo
Our last day took us to SoHo where we shopped some more, ate in Little Italy, shopped in Chinatown and back to SoHo for more shopping.
Our trip was a quick one, but we were able to sample the best of what NYC has to offer in the way of sights, famous people (yes we saw celebrities!), and cuisine. Hoping to get back again soon so I can visit Brooklyn, maybe catch a Yankees game and sample more restaurants!