November is a perfect time to take advantage of the many outdoor recreational activities and adventures in NYC. Explore the city's extensive selection of parks and green spaces: join the hundreds of New Yorkers on their daily jogs around Central Park's famous reservoir; enjoy a legendary NYC food cart hot dog and pretzel while picnicking on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's grand steps; or sign up for a fall foliage tour through the city's most scenic parks and botanical gardens.
You also can kick back at one the city's ubiquitous street fairs. The Sixth Avenue Autumn Street Fair is an especially popular annual November event. Finally, take time to freely wander and discover the city's exciting, eclectic neighborhoods, from Times Square to SoHo to Little Italy to Chinatown and beyond. NYC is one of the greatest walking cities in the world.
Fall in NYC also brings a reinvigoration of the city's cultural scene after the relatively quiet summer months. Broadway comes alive with new theater openings and revivals; acclaimed independent films often unavailable elsewhere pack the city's reputable film institutes; the famed museums feature new exhibits; and the city's restaurants renovate menus to incorporate the freshest seasonal produce and culinary trends. In addition, the city's professional basketball, football, and hockey teams are playing. The optimal strategy for navigating these choices is to first consult a comprehensive NYC guide and identify the entertainment events that you most want to experience during your stay. Then make reservations in advance so that you can visualize your schedule and figure out what else you can fit in.
Be sure to prioritize the special events that take place only in NYC and only in November. The New York City Marathon, held annually on the first Sunday of November, is the original "amazing race." The 26.2-mile course winds through the city's five boroughs and throngs of cheering crowds before reaching the Central Park finish line. The world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is another must-see NYC annual event; extravagant floats, celebrity performers, and marching bands take over the streets, to the delight of the thousands of New Yorkers and visitors who have staked out prime viewing positions.
