New York, New York… Welcome to the concrete jungle. For many reasons, this line is a very accurate description of the city, especially the jungle part but to avoid scaring our readers, we will not be touching on that description of the big apple. Let’s focus on why people love the city and how you can go about appreciating it the same way the locals do!
One of our APERTUS team members, Victoria, made a visit to NYC for the first time in December and has compiled a list of the 5 activities any first timer should include in their itinerary, tips and tricks included (:
While there are many activities and things to do in NYC, depending on how much time you have there, you probably won’t be able to cover most of the attractions so this article should help you in your planning.
Cue Victoria 👏
Empire State Building
It should be no surprise that I have included the Empire State Building in the list. This iconic building has been featured in countless movies, mugs, and magnets, it is recognizable to all, so how can you say that you’ve visited NYC without heading up the empire state building?
Thankfully this isn’t just a lift ride up to an observatory that overlooks NYC, it is also a mini museum where you get to learn and see how the building was constructed, through interactive artwork and installations.
Tip: If you have less than 7 days in NY and would like to pack as many activities as possible, if you visit the Empire State Building, you can skip out on the Rockefeller Center. Both give you a view of the city from a high vantage point, that’s the selling point, so if you’re pressed on time just visit one of them!
Times Square
Nothing screams New York like huge billboards and flashing lights and that is exactly what you will get in Times Square. The lights hit you like a wave and you are likely to feel overwhelmed, I definitely was haha. I would say that this has to be experienced in person, it does feel quite magical, you have to take in everything slowly and try not to get lost in the crowd.
If you happen to be visiting in winter like I did, it might be really cold but there are plenty of stores around for you to hide out from the cold in, and tons of food trucks lining the streets so that you can get a warm bite to eat. It was in Time Square where it hit me, that I was truly in New York.
Natural History Museum
This museum was breathtaking, and that is not an exaggeration.
Any science or history nerds will go feral in this museum, from the moment you enter you get to see 2 huge dinosaur skeletal structures that tower over the crowd, and just the size of the ticketing lobby will leave you in shock of the magnitude of the museum.
Trust me, you need a full day to get through all the exhibits, perhaps even 2 if you want to stop and read all the descriptions that accompany the exhibits.
As a fan of museums, this visit and activity was one of my favorites, and it really accommodates everyone.
Whether you are young or old, I’m sure this museum will be a fun experience for you, if it wasn’t do let us know why, though I really doubt that would be the case.
Lions, sharks, beavers, and of course dinosaurs can be found in this museum, there is no shortage of life-like animals to see and be in awe of. Depending on when you visit, keep a look out for special exhibits as well, I managed to see their shark exhibit and beaver film, but even without the exclusive exhibits there is more than enough to absorb. Gemstone lovers would also be happy to know that there is an entire section dedicated to rocks and jewels that shine brightly.
Tip: Make sure to get your tickets for the museum online instead of hoping you can get them on the day of your visit. This is an extremely popular tourist spot and the queue for the tickets are often really long, and there is no guarantee that you can even get a ticket because they can sell out. So to save yourself from disappointment, get your tickets beforehand!
Broadway
New York = Broadway, Broadway = New York
We can bet that 9/10 of your artsy friends will tell you to catch Wicked, or Phantom of the Opera when in New York, and when you ask why, they will just say ‘Cmon it's Broadway!!’ In my opinion that is not a good answer because it doesn’t answer anything, but I do agree that you cannot miss out on Broadway when in NY, it is a must do activity because the performance is just spectacular (at least the show I watched was).
I managed to catch Moulin Rouge this time and I’m pretty sure my mouth was wide open due to the shock for 80% of the show. I never thought that the sets could be so spectacular and fantastical, it was all so detailed, even the area where the audience sat was designed to match the show and transport you to the scene, I really felt like I was in a Parisian night club.
This activity is perfect for anyone who likes theatrical performances and hopes to forget the real world for a few hours, it was truly fun and memorable and I would come back to New York just to watch another show in person.
Tip: Again, make sure to buy your tickets beforehand, the tickets for popular shows sell out pretty quickly!
Spyscape
Now this was not initially on my itinerary, but it made it to my list and I think that says something 🤔
Spyscape uses immersive stories and experiences to help people uncover their own potential, the potential to become a spy. It might sound like this is an activity for kids but trust me, any adult will transport themselves back to their childhood in this building and really get in on the fun.
The museum part of this experience covers learning about spies, who they are, what they do, and their motivations, the experience part covers playing mind games and physical games to test your IG and dexterity, almost like a real spy!
Spyscape is best experienced for yourself, just know that you will have tons of fun when you go in with an open mind. If possible, don’t miss the Batman experience if you’re a fan of DC and have dreamt of living in Gotham City yourself. The attention to detail in this experience went beyond my expectation, but I won’t spoil the surprise, just book your tickets ASAP!
And that wraps up the Top 5 experiences to try in New York according to Victoria, let us know if you’ve done the same activities before and if you agree! Traveling is something the APERTUS Team appreciates just as much as our clients do and we look forward to introducing more recommendations.
If we’ve missed something let us know, we would love to get advice from some of the world’s most avid travelers like yourself ☺️