Beth and I went to New York City for a July 4th weekend many years ago. It was just the two of us. We visited Central Park, did a little shopping, and got to see the fireworks over the Hudson Bay. We walked and walked. By the end of the day, we were exhausted, but happy about the experience.
If you’ve been to New York, you know that the draw of the Big Apple can be infectious. It’s one of those cities that offers something new every time you go. Our biggest problem now is that it can be pretty expensive to visit. Three kids later, money gets tighter and even a cheap room in the city can cost well over $200, not to mention travel to get there. Thankfully, there are budget-friendly options out there for those of us who are content to visit for just one day.
Getting There
Many local Parks and Recreation Departments regularly organize day trips to New York. In our county, Beth and I can pay $75 each to take a bus up to New York for the day. It leaves early on Saturday and gets back early on Sunday, giving us about 12 hours to explore New York and the opportunity to catch some shut eye on both trips. The great thing about the savings is that we have a few more dollars to spend on things to do once we get there. Even if your county does not organize a trip, look around. Some motor-coach companies arrange these trips or you can get a group of people together on your own and hire a charter bus. The fuller the bus, the less it costs everyone going.
Just One Day?
So what can you do in just one day in New York City? Well, you can visit a museum, grab tickets to a matinee on Broadway, or just do a little shopping. Personally, I’m all about the food. I’d have to go to Katz’s Delicatessen for a pastrami sandwich or stop by Lombardi’s for some authentic New York Pizza. Beth has been talking about seeing The Lion King, so we’d probably pick up some Lion King tickets. Otherwise, I just love watching people. For me, sitting in an open air cafe with a cup of coffee is a great way to spend a day.
So what would you do if you had just one day in New York City? Leave us a comment and let us know.
I can’t wait to go this summer!!
Definitely can see lots in a day! When I was in high school, I went there with a foreign exchange student of ours. Looking back, it’s hard to believe my parents ever let us travel there alone. We stayed on Long Island with some of her relatives and road a train in. I now live about four hours away and would love to take my kids at Christmas time to see the lights and all the stores decorated. Would be a fun day trip.