The city that never sleeps is a fantastic destination for tourism. However, even if you’re a local to the tri-state area, there is still plenty to see and experience. Before college, I had barely explored the city, and I had never ridden the subway. Now, I love going downtown, even if it’s just to walk around with my friends or go on a date.
Nature
If you’re looking to enjoy a nice walk downtown, Central Park, especially in the spring and summer, is a beautiful place to stroll for some fresh air and to get to know someone. Many famous movies were shot in this park and it’s fun to visit those spots such as the Bow Bridge in the movie “Enchanted” (2007) and “Bethesda Terrace and Fountain” where Harry and Sally go jogging together in the hit romcom “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989) and where Kevin McAllister meets the Bird Lady in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992). Additionally, the Central Park Zoo is a delightful attraction for animal lovers.
Museums
One unexpected place I thoroughly enjoyed visiting was the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). I don’t usually find museums all that fun, but when I went to The Met with three good friends, it turned out to be one of the best hangouts I had during college. One of my friends was assigned to write a paper about art, so he invited me alongside two other guys to join him. (His excuse was that he wanted to make it less boring.) To start the day, we took the subway from the Heights to the Upper West Side, and from there, we walked across Central Park (see above for further detail), where we had a blast. We sat upside-down on benches and even posed on a rock in random stances for pictures. By the time we got to the museum, we were pretty exhausted but full of adrenaline. While we were in the museum, the fun didn’t stop; it just got crazier! We decided to let loose and started imitating all the art and sculptures. Some people smiled at the humor, while most others just looked at us like we were nuts. But none of us cared, and we just enjoyed ourselves. I still have all the pictures from the trip as memories.
Some other museums around the city include those dedicated to dogs, ice cream and illusions, as well as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the Museum of Natural History.
Sightseeing
There are also numerous sightseeing opportunities all around the city that are perfect for dates. Some sights offer beautiful views, such as the Field of Light and Summit One Vanderbilt. Summit One Vanderbilt provides a great view of the city from 42nd Street, including Times Square, the Chrysler Building and Bryant Park. At night, when the city lights up, you just can’t help but take a selfie. Meanwhile, the Harry Potter Exhibition, along with the largest Harry Potter store, offers a magical experience inspired by the books and movies. There you can see various costumes and recreated scenes from the movie and interesting facts about the cast and what it took to film. You can pretend that you are in the final fight scene between Harry and Voldemort with friends or take a picture of you pretending to fight a dragon. In the largest Harry Potter store, there are so many things that you can buy as a remembrance of your trip, including various wands from all different wizards, pretending you are eating the infamous Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and merchandise from the four houses; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
Other sightseeing experiences that I have yet to visit but have been advised to include are the Friends Experience, the Navy Pier, the Statue of Liberty and Little Island.
Other Activities
New York City offers more than just museums and sightseeing. There are plenty of other fun activities like Dave & Buster’s, bowling, escape rooms, ice skating, and even rage rooms to help alleviate the stress and anxiety of daily life. For those with an artistic inclination, there are places for pottery making and painting. Theater enthusiasts can enjoy numerous Broadway shows almost every day, while those preferring film can visit the many movie theaters in the downtown area. Additionally, the city boasts a plethora of opportunities to see comedy shows, such as Radio City Music Hall, where I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite comedians, Matt Rife, perform live, and where I hope to meet the stars of “Impractical Jokers,” one of the funniest television shows, at a future live show.
Conclusion
The nickname “The City That Never Sleeps” is perfect for New York City because there is always someone walking around, and it is a city where the lights never shut off. If you can take a vacation day to spend time with friends or family over Chol Hamoed, I highly recommend spending a day in the city, since there is so much to do and see that you will never be bored.
