We Are Ready When You Are
New York City is excited to welcome travelers back to the city that never sleeps… While some attractions are still updating their hours of operation, its still the perfect time to explore some great spaces and places (with less crowds). Here’s some fun places to check-out once you are ready to venture into the concrete jungle….
Things to do in New York City:
Watch the iconic Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony from your home on NBC on December 2nd, 2020. This annual event maybe canceled to public viewing but it will still be broadcasted on television live with all the bells and whistles.
Another great virtual event is taking place on Thanksgiving Day with the live televised broadcast of Macy’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Watch as iconic floats and huge balloons float down the parade path and end with Santa Claus.
Ice skate at Bryant Park this winter season and enjoy the only free admission rink in the city and afterwards roam around the Winter Village and dine at one of the many eateries.
Another iconic ice skating rink is just around the corner at The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Skate underneath the gigantic Christmas tree in the heart of the city.
Dine in your very own cabin atop Pier 17 at The Greens. Take in the sights of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn skyline. Enjoy delicious holiday food and drinks with family or friends.
Roam the Five Lantern Safaris light display at the Bronx Zoo. Then enjoy holiday treats, ice carving demonstrations and more when you spend the evening at the zoo.
Macy’s Santaland maybe virtual this year but your kids can still meet Santa and let him know what he or she wants this holiday season. Plus take a selfie with Santa himself and enjoy an interactive journey through the North Pole.
Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Display is a go! It will be a little different this year however, as there will be 20 smaller lighting ceremonies and it will all be virtual. Starting November, 23rd. Bloomingdale’s will also be continuing their holiday window event virtual as well, featuring The American Ballet and singer Andrea Day.
Take the time to explore the city by boat on The Staten Island Ferry – its a super fun and free way to travel through the waters of New York City. Each way is 25 minutes and offers some amazing summer views of downtown Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the skyline of Brooklyn and New Jersey. Some well-known movies and tv shows also featured some special film moments on the ferry including Sex and the City, Spiderman and Dark Knight.
Check out the incredible citywide public art campaign Messages for the City in Times Square featuring artist-designed messages of love, gratitude, and solidarity with New York City’s health care and essential workers. The initiative turns the city’s digital displays into platforms of appreciation through the lens of graphic designers and visual artists from around the world. A rotating display of designs will be on view in Times Square on an ongoing basis at the 15, 30, and 45- minute marks throughout each day.
NYC Ferry operated by Hornblower offers a new, affordable way to travel between waterfront communities throughout the city boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The routes span over 60 nautical miles of waterways and connects visitors to the city’s waterfront communities. And a convenient part is the ticketing system is app based. No need to handle cash or tickets.
The Lawn might still be closed at Bryant Park, but the Fountain Terrace offers special fun opportunities from the Bubble Man and Ribbon Dancing for kids and some playtime for adults with Chess, Ping Pong and Petanque in the Park Area. Grab a snack or coffee break at Joe’s Coffee Company or Wafels & Dinges.
When you come to NYC during the summer you must walk or bike the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Located in downtown NYC, this historical bridge built in 1883, spans the East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Perfect for a stroll on a sunny day as you will be able to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Or walk on over to Dumbo which is a trendy neighborhood located right near the bridge in Brooklyn, to experience their world renowned restaurants and hip boutiques as well as taking in the Manhattan skyline.
Whether you are looking for a fun outdoor exercise activity or just a casual bike ride, check out CitiBike with hundreds of pickup and drop off locations throughout New York City. Get yourself a day pass or multiple passes to enjoy with family and friends for 24 hour unlimited rides. It’s an easy way to get around the city and explore new hidden gems. Download the CitiBike’s app for bike station locations as well as popular routes.
Walk along the East River at Pier 17 or sit and enjoy those stunning NYC summer sunsets overlooking the Brooklyn and Jersey City skylines at The Waterfront Access. Bring a book to read and relax or pack a delicious homemade picnic basket to enjoy with friends and family. Nothing is better then relaxing by the water with breathtaking scenery, plus enjoy a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Starting June 16th, book your tour and experience the beauty and splendor of New York City aboard the Statue of Liberty ferry. Tour the grounds of Liberty Island and take the perfect photo of Lady Liberty.
Tour the historic Ellis Island Immigration Museum and research your families exciting history. View genealogy records of your ancestry and explore this landmark island. You can explore Ellis Island before or after the Statue of Liberty as both islands are right next to each other or you may explore it on its own.
Pending local and state approvals, we will reopen August 14 with a free, outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, in our rear courtyard. On September 11, the Museum will reopen indoors, with safety protocols in place for visitors and staff.
With so many different cruises to choose from, explore America’s favorite boat ride and experience over 130 landmarks including the iconic Statue of Liberty and NYC skyline. Sit back, relax and enjoy sightseeing the city that never sleeps!
Take in the views of Rockefeller Center with a number of outdoor seating options from the most celebrated restaurants and cafe’s in the city. Enjoy from endless options such as Del Frisco’s Grille, byChloe, Magnolia Bakery, Teuscher Chocolates, Maison du Chocolate and Blue Bottle Coffee. Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out Sugarfina and Jacques Torres. Want to shop? check out Kate Spade, LEGO (for the kids), Mulberry, and Danielle Wellington and LOFT.
With the backdrop of the gorgeous Hudson River and Statue of Liberty, check out City Vineyard. An open air space with outdoor dinning and out door bar, sip on a glass of wine made from the best vineyards in the country.
Witness a Sunday service at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Right on 5th avenue and next to Sak’s Fifth Avenue, step inside the largest church in NYC. Or walk around the magnificent building taking pictures of the architecture that was erected in 1879.
Rising 70 feet above sea-level, the Hills give visitors a new relationship with the sea and sky, offering breathtaking never-before-seen views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor.
The Bronx Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s flagship park, opened on November 8, 1899. The animals and exhibits at the Bronx Zoo span the globe and include tiny toads from Tanzania and big cats from the Russian Far East. With more than 700 species, the zoo is the perfect place to inspire animal lovers of all ages.
Manhattan’s Central Park Zoo is one of the oldest in the country, first opening on its current site in 1861. The zoo is open every day of the year and features three major biomes: the Tropic Zone, Temperate Territory, and the Polar Circle. From tropical birds, to snow leopards, grizzly bears, and one of the nation’s largest colonies of Antarctic penguins, there are animals to enjoy in every season.
Visit the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, located a short drive or train ride on the famous Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Experience over 350 different marine wildlife species right in New York City.
Established in 1891, The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is distinguished by the beauty of its landscape, collections, and gardens. Located in Bronx, New York a short train ride or drive from Manhattan, experience the beauty of nature through the museum’s living plant collections, gardens and landscapes.
From the top of the iconic Empire State Building, take in the glittering Manhattan skyline with views extending to Brooklyn, New Jersey and Queens.
Housed in a distinctive Romanesque Revival building (a former public school), PS1 mounts cutting-edge shows and hosts an acclaimed international studio program.
Whitney Museum of American Art
As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum of American Art presents the full range of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, with a special focus on works by living artists.
Since 1961, the American Folk Art Museum has been the leading institution shaping the understanding of art by the self-taught through its exhibitions, publications, and educational programs. Its collection includes more than eight thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent—from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums.
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD)
The Museum of Arts and Design, collects, displays, and interprets objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art, and design.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is an American military and maritime history museum in New York City with a collection of museum ships. It is located at Pier 86 at 46th Street, along the Hudson River.
The Rubin Museum of Art is a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of Himalayan regions.
A complex of buildings in the heart of New York City, The Morgan Library & Museum began as the private library of financier Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), one of the preeminent collectors and cultural benefactors in the United States. As early as 1890 Morgan had begun to assemble a collection of illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints which is all on display now for visitors to view.
South Street Seaport Museum’s Wavertree Tall Ship
With access to the historical ship “Wavertree” visitors will be able to explore the outdoor areas, including the main deck and raised rear deck. Visits will be self-guided along a set route and limited to 35 (masked) people at a time. The museum itself will have an outdoor exhibit on Pier 16 that will celebrate the people of all backgrounds who lived and worked in the South Street Seaport Historic District.Using historic photographs, prints, lithographs, and paintings, the exhibition highlights some of the Seaport Museum’s collection of more than 28,000 artifacts and works of art, and over 55,000 historic records.
American Museum of Natural History
The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world’s cultures.
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum which plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world.
