New York short getaway day one, morning
Start your short getaway in New York City in Midtown, taking the elevator up to the 86th-floor observatory of the
Empire State Building. A panoramic view of the city unfolds, with the
Chrysler Building rising above the jagged skyline and
Central Park laid out like a green carpet. Book ahead to avoid the lines. Walk north along Fifth Avenue, past the stone lions guarding the
New York Public Library, to 42nd Street. A block east stands the Beaux-Arts
Grand Central Terminal station. Make your way to 49th Street and Fifth Avenue to wander the shops around
Rockefeller Center. Start: Empire State Building.
Nearest subway: 34th Street
Afternoon
A trip to
Lombardi’s for some of the best New York-style pizza will satisfy the biggest appetite. Since 1905, the pizzeria has served an almost grease-free pie, with fresh Italian mozzarella and fresh-from-the-market toppings. A couple of blocks west,
SoHo is the shoppers’ sanctuary. Fashion lovers come to browse designer stores like
Prada and
Kate Spade, as well as chic boutiques you won’t find elsewhere. Before heading back to your New York City hotel, stop in at the mountain lodge-style
MercBar for a late-afternoon drink.
Start: Broadway and Houston.
Nearest subway: Broadway/Lafayette
Evening
A night at a
Broadway show beckons. Book tickets in advance or score discount tickets at the
TKTS booth on 47th and Broadway.
Sardi’s is
the classic Broadway restaurant – a crowd of resting actors and theatergoers makes for an electric pre-curtain atmosphere. The hot tickets are the musicals and dramas, but off-Broadway takes on classic plays are also worth checking out.
Start: Times Square.
Nearest subway: Times Square
New York short getaway day two, morning
Grab a bagel at a deli, then head uptown for a visit to one of New York’s finest museums.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds one of the largest art and antiquities collections in the world. Across
Central Park, the dinosaur display at the
American Museum of Natural History will excite both kids and adults.
Start: Upper East Side.
Nearest subway: 86th Street
Afternoon
Weather permitting, picnic in
Central Park, then rent a rowboat on the lake. Stop for an ice cream on the Mall or climb to the top of Belvedere Castle for views of the whole park. Make your way downtown to
Greenwich Village. A smattering of funky boutiques and used record stores line this street, perfect for an afternoon stroll. Watch the open-air chess in
Washington Square Park or get lost among the 18 miles of bookshelves in Broadway’s
Strand Book Store. Start: Central Park.
Nearest subway: 72nd Street
Evening
End your New York short getaway in style with dinner in
Union Square.
Craft and
Union Square Café create innovative New American dishes, or try
Mesa Grill for its spicy Mexican flavors. After dinner, catch some jazz at the
Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village. Or dance to the house beats at
Cielo in the Meatpacking District.
Start: Union Square.
Nearest subway: Union Square
