Planning a weekend trip to NYC can be very overwhelming. There are hundreds of guides and a million more things to see or do. I recommend focusing your trip on one or two main activities, then filling the gaps with a few things along the way.
Our trips to New York City are never a full weekend ordeal. We book a late flight out of Chicago (hop on the standby list) on Friday and head out mid-morning on Sunday. I’ve learned less is more, and you’ll be amazed by how fast time flies while you’re there.
Growing up, in Nebraska, I was mesmerized by the big city. After moving to Chicago, I worried that the allure of New York City would diminish. Luckily, that has yet to happen and I still jump at any chance to visit.
Day One
Watching the sun set during our descent into the city, we headed directly to our hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Central Park (read my review here), after landing. Once check in was complete, bags were unpacked, and a complimentary drink was enjoyed at the hotel bar, we set out to find dinner.
We found ourselves at Sophie’s, a cozy wine bar in Midtown. A quaint, Italian spot, it was the perfect place to begin the night after a full day of working. With our stomachs full, we met up with a few friends and hopped around bars in the East Village.
Day Two – BIRTHDAY DAY!
Hitting our snooze only once, we were up and ready for our one full day in Manhattan. First stop: Brunch. I had made reservations at Café Clover in the West Village. I saw the blue/white interior on Instagram, and may have made my decision purely on that (oh, and the burger with a sweet potato bun). Overall, it was a really cute spot, and the service was INCREDIBLE.
Next, we made our way to our main activity for the day, the 9-11 Memorial & Museum. I still get chills thinking about my experience at the memorial & museum. I encourage everyone to make time for this when you find yourself in New York. The Museum does take 3-4 hours to complete, and prepare yourself, it is incredibly moving. I found myself in tears multiple times.
Note: We booked our tickets in advance, which allowed us to skip a pretty hefty line. Tickets are usually available on the spot. We also missed our scheduled time, but we had no issue getting in.
Pro Tip: I wish I would have been more on my game and made my way to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. We were minutes away.
The Oculus, the transportation hub at the World Trade Center, recently opened. It’s a ridiculous structure, it looks like a transformer. Definitely take a walk through it if you have time! We hopped on the train, after exploring, and headed back to Midtown.
We managed to squeeze a brief walk in Central Park before getting ready for dinner and allotted just enough time to pick up a hotdog (a must).
That night we had dinner reservations at Le Bernadin, a three-star Michelin restaurant, and the real reason we made this trip. The Ritz-Carlton was able to make reservations for us to celebrate my husband’s birthday (another reason to always use the concierge!) Stay tuned — I am going to create a post entirely for this unbelievable experience.
We ended the night in Brooklyn, with a group of friends, (which led to a two day hangover), never again. Which brings us to Day Three….
Day Three
** Full Disclosure: Our morning was supposed to go in this manner, but we found ourselves waking up three hours before our flight took off. Whoops.**
Brunch at Freeman’s. I booked reservations for this adorable restaurant in the Lower East Side. Tucked back in its own alley, I cannot wait to enjoy a meal on our next trip.
We flew out of Newark back to Chicago, even though we knew better than that. I CANNOT recommend flying in/out of LaGuardia more. Cabs cannot pick up at Newark, making a trip to the airport more than $100 RT (and it’s much farther away).
My Other Must Do’s:
$1 Za. Truthfully, it’s only 99 cents and the most necessary late night snack in NYC.
Get tickets to a Late Night Show. My girlfriends and I snagged tickets to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Most epic night of my life. Minus my proposal….which happened the next night.
Broadway Show. Which show? Any. Broadway is out of this world in NYC. The theaters are smaller, making any seat, a great seat.
What’s your favorite memory from New York City?
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