The state of New York offers practically everything for travel enthusiasts: History, arts, culture, music, food, concerts, plays, sporting events, and so much more.
It’s no wonder that New York consistently ranks among the most visited places for tourists every year. There is no shortage of unique and enticing things to see during your visit to The Empire State. You could easily spend seven to 10 days here without getting bored.
Here is a list of some of the must-do things for your future visit to New York.
Sporting Events & Betting
New York has three NFL teams (the New York Giants, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills), three NHL teams (New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres), two MLB teams (New York Yankees and New York Mets) and two NBA teams (New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets).
The state of New York also launched legalised online/mobile sports betting in January of this year, and it’s been a massive financial success, thanks mainly to the city’s incredible love of sports. You don’t even have to be a sports fan to try to play on the many New York Sports Betting Apps through here, as several sportsbooks hand out special offers to new customers.
For example, Caesars is offering customers in The Empire State up to $1,500 in risk-free bets, and FanDuel is offering a $1,000 “No Sweat First Bet.”
Aside from sports betting, casino lovers can also play some of their favourite gambling games through New York sportsbooks. This includes poker, blackjack, roulette, slots and much more.
The Rangers and Knicks play at Madison Square Garden, one of the world’s most famous sporting venues. This is always a can’t-miss atmosphere, regardless of where either team sits in the standings. If neither team is in town during your stay here, you can still enjoy a concert or separate event of some sort at the legendary MSG.
The Yankees play at the beautiful new Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. This is another must-see location during your visit if you’re a diehard sports fan. If you’re staying in the Queens area, you can check out a Mets game at Citi Field in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.
It should be noted that the Jets and Giants actually play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — which is about a 30-minute drive from New York City. So it’s still easy to plan a Giants or Jets home game during your stay here.
Broadway Shows
At any given date, chances are some of your favourite movies/stories are being performed on Broadway.
There is no shortage of classic tales currently running under the bright Broadway lights. For example, Disney’s The Lion King is being performed at the historic Minskoff Theatre.
Another theatre classic, The Phantom of The Opera, is being performed at the Majestic Theatre. Those who love The Wonderful Wizard of Oz also have to check out the timeless Wicked musical, which is being run at George Gershwin Theatre.
Whether you love classics, comedies, musicals, family-friendly plays (or all of the above), there is a Broadway show for everybody. And, of course, you can always book your trip around the scheduled performances of a specific play that you really want to see.
The Statue of Liberty
If you’re a history fanatic, who wishes to see the significant monuments of New York, the Statue of Liberty has to be at or near the top of your wish list.
According to the National Park Service website, Liberty Island attracted over two million “recreation” visitors annually from 2000 to 2016. The latter year alone brought in over 4.501 million visitors.
The Statue of Liberty was a donated gift from the nation of France to the United States, and the statue was unveiled in 1886.
Visitors have the option to take a ferry ride and get up close to the statue, or you can simply view it from a distance and still get a nice picture. There are plenty of different guided tour packages you can purchase to enhance your experience on Liberty Island.
On top of that, the Statue of Liberty is only about a 20-minute drive from other tourist hot spots like Times Square and Central Park. So you can easily tie all of these must-do events into one day if you so desire.
Whitney Museum of American Art
The place became prominent when it shifted from the Upper East to its headquarters in 2015. The houses in the Museum range from 50000 square feet of inside galleries crafted with works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, and Richard Avedon. The four external exhibition spaces with a terrace and a ground-floor restaurant are one of the most renowned places in the city.
Floors in the museum are connected by elevators designed by two artists. You can also take the stairs as they are beautifully crafted and offer views of the Hudson River. The sculpture terrace and upper floors are connected via exterior staircases offering views of Downtown Skyline.
Brooklyn Heights
It is located in the middle of Manhattan. One can look across the river and view the bounty of nature. Brooklyn Heights demonstrates some couple subway stops structured from Downtown. Here, the city’s beautiful landscape gives you an amazing view. The best view from the skyline in the city is given by the Brooklyn Heights, which floats just above the Brooklyn Queen Expressway.
The place is surrounded by tree lines in a walkway, traffic rumbles and a peaceful arena. The entire promenade extends from Remsen Street in the south to Middagh Street in the North. The neighbourhood has the New York Transit Museum, one of the oldest bars, Montero, and a Sardinian restaurant.
Bottom Line
New York is huge and diverse, with endless opportunities to explore. Even if you stay here for five lifetimes, it won’t be enough to explore the city thoroughly. Figuring out how to make your NYC trip an amazing one is a daunting task in itself. But don’t confuse yourself with any of this; just list the best places in the city according to your preferences and plan your trip.
