New York Top 10, Part 1

Just returned from a brilliant week in New York! What a fantastic city!

I stayed in Midtown Manhattan, in Hell's Kitchen. It made many of the sights I had on my list (yep, I'm a listmaker-I loooove lists :) easy to walk to. Also, for a tourist, is there anything better than a city laid out on a grid system?! Streets running East to West and Avenues running North to South meant that is was nearly impossible to get lost in Manhattan. For someone like me, who is not great at reading maps (& how is it that I naturally walk in the OPPOSITE direction of where I'm trying to go?), it was AMAZING!

Below is Part one of TOP TEN things to see & do in Manhattan. I miss it already!

ONE: BRYANT PARK

Named after the poet and editor of the New York Evening Post in 1884, William Cullen Bryant, Bryant Park is a beautiful little suntrap in the middle of the city. With plenty of chairs and tables set up throughout the park, it's a great place to rest after a long walk, or the perfect spot to eat lunch al fresco.

Click here for a list of Bryant Park's upcoming events, and to learn more about the history of the park.

TWO: OPEN TOP BUS TOUR, HOP ON/HOP OFF

Taking a bus tour is a great way to see the city. With a hop on/hop off ticket you can stop off at your favourite sights and attractions, and then rejoin the bus at any time within a 24hr period.

*Travel Tip: Check to see if tickets are cheaper if you pre-book online (which they often are).

We chose the Downtown Loop. It starts on 42nd Street and travels down to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan.

*Travel Tip: Many of the open top buses have a plastic roof. I don't know if this is because it's winter, but there are some buses that are uncovered, or only half covered with the plastic roof. I'd recommend choosing one of these as it's impossible to take photos under the plastic roof. It's great if you're wanting to see the city and stay warm in the winter, but not if you're wanting to snap photos of the sights (which most of us do).

Radio City Music Hall

Rockefeller Center

THREE: THE HIGH LINE

Stretching from W 30th to Gansevoort Street (past W 13th in the Meatpacking District,) between 10th and 11th Avenue, The High Line was a railway track that fell out of use in the 1980s, and has now been transformed into an aerial greenspace hovering above the city. The 2.3km walkway, planted with grasses, shrubs, trees and perennials, is definitely worth a visit. Their lovely 'Monthly Bloom List' of what is blossoming on The High Line is linked here.

FOUR: GRAND CENTRAL STATION

Built by the Vanderbilt family, Grand Central Station opened in 1871 (then known as Grand Central Depot). The station's beautiful zodiac ceiling (created by French artist Paul Helleu in place of a desired skylight, as time and money were running out), which you can see a glimpse of below on the right, features 12 constellations painted in gold leaf and 2,500 stars.

Grand Central Station is a transit hub with 44 platforms and stunning architecture. After its 1998 restoration, it doubled its retail space and now houses 68 shops and a variety of restaurants and bars. It's the perfect place to take shelter from the weather and explore on a cold or rainy day.

Explore the station yourself, or book an audio or guided tour.

Exterior Grand Central Station

Main Concourse

five: Broadway!

I was lucky to see two brilliant shows while I was in New York. The first was The National Theatre of Scotland's wonderful 'The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart' at The Mckittrick Hotel. The experience starts from the moment you step into the lift that takes you up to the theatre space, which has been transformed into a pub, where the beginning of the play is set.

Dynamic, fast-paced, engaging and bursting with Scottish folk music & storytelling, Prudencia Hart is a must see!

The second show is one of my favourite musicals, 'Sunday in the Park with George', based on the life and work of the French pointillist painter, Georges Suerat (1859-1891). Set around the theme of artistic creation, it's a gorgeous show with stunning songs.

I sat in Row R of the Stalls in the newly renovated Hudson Theatre. The view of the stage was great, and completely unobstructed. I saw the show while it was still in previews, so ticket prices have likely gone up now that the show has officially opened.

But if you can get across to see it, do! It is such a beautiful show.

'Sunday in the Park with George' runs until April 23rd, as does 'The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart' at The McKittrick Hotel.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog! Check back next week for Part 2 of my New York Top Ten.

*Transport Recommendation: NYC Airporter

If you're looking for an affordable and easy way to get from JFK, La Guardia or Newark Airports into Manhattan, Airporter is great option. Dropping you at either Penn Station, Grand Central Station or Port Authority Bus station, you can then make your way to your hotel from midtown. An NYC Airporter Ticket Officer usually waits near the Airporter signs outside of the airport - you will be able to purchase a ticket from them, or pre-book online.

Due to NYC traffic, the shuttles don't always run to the times that are outlined on the website, so factor that in and give yourself some extra time to get to the airport.

For at Return journey of $27 (as opposed to a single $60 taxi ride from JFK to Manhattan), and the ease of handing over your luggage and hopping on a bus that takes you straight into Manhattan, the price can't really be beat!

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