Iflew to New York/New Jersey for a long weekend to be with family and to attend my aunt’s birthday celebration.   On the flight to Newark International Airport, I sat next to two best friends who were going to New York for a day.  Learning that I used to live in New York, they excitedly ask if I had tips and ideas on what they can do and see in New York City if they only have such a limited time to see the sites.

If you’ve been to New York— you know that there is so much to do and see in the “City That Does Not Sleep”!  Given the time constraints, it was hard for me to narrow down what I would suggest to someone who has never been to New York do and see.  New York is such an exciting place that I would love to show them everything that makes New York City special.  Should I tell them to go to all the touristy spots or should I suggest places and things to do that a New Yorker would do?

New York has 5 boroughs.  Manhattan is one of them.  While each of the boroughs has its own personality and offers something different, it would probably be best to stay in Manhattan when you have limited time.  Manhattan is centrally located and densely packed with a ton of things to go to and see in a day.

Since they were staying in Midtown Manhattan, I went ahead and told them what they could do and see that would be in the vicinity of where they were staying.  With the right plan, a one day visit can be a terrific introduction to New York City.

Below is how I planned their day.  If you are looking for a way to see New York in a day, you may want to check the itinerary below to take advantage of the short time in the City.  Heard of a New York minute?  You may feel and get to know what that means as you  try to see and experience the most of New York in a day!

The Top of The Rock

The view from Top of The Rock

Top of the Rock  is the popular observation deck located at 30 Rockefeller Center at 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue.  Tickets are available online or can be purchased in person the day you visit.  The elevator goes to the 68th floor to the observation deck where the views are spectacular.  You will be able to see the Empire State if you look South and Central Park when you look North.  Once done on top you can proceed to the Dining Concourse where one can find good options for a quick bite.

30 Rockefeller Center

Atlas sculpture i- Rocjkefeller Center

From the Dining Concourse, take the escalator back upstairs to check out the lobby of 30 Rockefeller Center before you leave.  Enjoy the “American Progress” mural on the main wall which was created by Jose Maria Sert, a Catalan artist.  When you look up at the ceiling, you will enjoy another Jose Maria Sert’s work called “Time”.  Time depicts the Present, Past and Future.

As you exit through the revolving doors, you will be greeted by flags at the Plaza.  The flags correspond to the members of the United Nation (these flags are replaced during the holiday or election season).  The lower plaza is where the famous skating rink is.  Above the rink you will filnd the gilded mythological figure of Prometheus bringing fire to mankind, represented by the smaller male and female bronze figures in the front of the Lower Plaza.

As you exit towards 5th Avenue, there stands the enormous Art Deco sculpture of Atlas holding up the weight of the world.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

If you walk a few steps on 5th Avenue, you will stumble upon St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  This splendid cathedral is open to the public.  Step inside to be awed by the dimensions and admire the beautiful stained glass work.

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library

New York City has no shortage of beautiful buildings and the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue is definitely ranked near the top.  It is considered as one of the best examples of the Beaux Arts style of architecture that was popular in New York in the early part of the 20th century.  The library is guarded by two massive stone lions given the name of Leo Patience and Leo Fortitude during the Great Depression to boost morale in the city that was devastated by the Crash of 1929.  If you are a movie buff, you’ve seen this building featured in the opening scene of the 1984 Ghost Busters and was in the tsunami scene of the movie, The Day After Tomorrow.

If you have the chance to walk inside, you will feel that you are in a museum instead of being in a library.  Take the grand stairs to the top floor to check out the stunning McGraw Rotunda and The Rose Reading Room.  Once here — you definitely would not want to leave!

In addition to the beautiful building the library houses many rare books and documents lime the first Gutenberg Bible that was brought to America and the handwritten final draft of the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson in the summer of 1776.

Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Station

When leaving the library, head East on 41st Street to Park Avenue to your next stop —-– Grand Central Terminal.  In the past, this enormous terminal was used by poor immigrants to go West.  It also offered luxury travel for first class passengers.  The terminal took 10 years to build and took another 10 years to restore in the 1990’s.  If you look up at the terminal’s celestial ceiling you will notice a dark rectangular patch near the crab’s claw’s on the Cancer zodiac.  This dark patch, which is mostly tobacco and nicotine pollution accumulated over the years, was left intentionally to remind people of the Grand Central’s once sorry state and to show how splendid its condition is today.

The Dining Concourse of the terminal offers lots of dining options for food and drink lovers.

Chrysler Building

You will see the Chrysler Building when you exit Grand Central on the Lexington Avenue side. It is a very recognizable building as it is often featured in movies and TV shows.  It is a terrific contrast to Grand Central.  Classical versus Modern, horizontal versus vertical, trains versus cars.  The Chrysler building was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, an automobile kingpin, who wanted to showcase his success with a tall building.  As this building was going up, another skyscraper, 40 Wall Street, was being erected and finished first to be the world’s tallest building in April 1930.  But a 125 foot stainless steel needle that was erected on top of the Chrysler building after 40 Wall Street was completed made the Chrysler Building taller than 40 Wall Street.  But Chrysler’s celebration was short lived because the Empire State Building beat the Chrysler Building 11 months later.  The only consolation was that the Chrysler Building was and remains the tallest brick skyscraper supported by steel and can boasts that there was not a single worker who died during the construction process.

Central Park

Central Park – Aerial View

Head uptown to the famous Central Park.  This park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux.  This is a massive common space of green oasis in the middle of a big city.  It is perhaps the world’s most famous public park.  It is 843 acres of beautifully landscaped areas that host meadows, bodies of water , about 20,000 trees, 58 miles of walking paths and 36 bridges and arches and every kind of recreational activity you can imagine:  picnics, ice skating, basketball, concerts, nature walks, lawn bowling and more. It is really a place that you should visit and not miss when in New York City!

Museum Mile

Museum of Modern Art

East of Central Park is the Museum Mile which may have more culture per square foot than anywhere in the world.   There are 6 museums on this stretch and having limited time means you will not be able to visit all of them.  Browse at least one of them during the limited time to get a sense of the unparalleled collection of art housed in the City.  Museums on Museum Mile include the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Guggenheim Museum, El Museo Del Barrio, The Museum of the City of New York, The Jewish Museum and the Copper Hewitt National Design Museum.

Subway ride to Lower Manhattan – City Hall and Federal Hall National Memorial

It is always a great thing to experience riding the subway when in New York.  Take the train to City Hall, one of the nation’s older still functioning civic buildings that boasts beautiful architecture.  You will also get a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge, another inspiring architectural marvel that is more than 130 years old, when you glance eastward from the City Hall grounds.

Next stop is the Federal Hall National Memorial, the site where George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States and where the Bill of Rights was passed.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

From the Federal Hall National Memorial head a few blocks west to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Here the twin pools in the outline of the original World Trade Center towers serve as a preface to a museum that tells the story of the September 11 attacks. Here you will also find the new One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the western hemisphere, soaring to a height of 1,776 feet.  An observatory is located a hundred floors up where you are afforded far-reaching and spectacular views of the City.

Harlem

Apollo Theater Harlem

To end the day, a visit to Harlem might be a good way to wrap up your short New York City stay.  Harlem is becoming one of the most vibrant neighborhoods and the world’s capital of African-American history and culture.  If time permits you can visit The Studio Museum that highlights black artists from the United States and around the world.  There is also the Apollo Theater Amateur Nights on Wednesday nights.  Harlem is also a great place to have dinner.  It is home to numerous restaurants that serve delectable cuisines.  My favorite is the Red Rooster Harlem from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.  Another well-known restaurant is the Cecil.

I am pretty sure that the two best friends who sat next to me can’t wait to come back now that they’ve had a taste of New York.  For those of you who also have a limited time to explore the City, keep in mind that there are 5 boroughs in New York.  Seeing some of the Manhattan sights only scratches the surface as there is really more to see and do in the Big Apple!

If you visited New York and had only a day or two to explore, let us know on the comments below how you planned your trip.

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