With so many things to do and see in New York, it is easy to get in over your head and come out without getting all you can out of the trip. Hotels, museum fees, taxi fare, food and drink---the prices are almost as high as the skyscrapers. Use a vacation or travel guide and figure out a realistic budget---and then plan on spending about 20 percent more. Determine a realistic schedule---and then cut out enough events to leave 20 percent of your time free. This way you'll never spend more than you intended and you'll never feel rushed. After all, this is a vacation, right?
There are so many interesting things to see in New York that the only way to see them all with limited time is to rush through, checking the box and moving on to the next site. That may be good for bragging rights as you tell your envious friends, "Oh yeah? Well I saw the Statue of Liberty, took in three Broadway shows, saw the Stock Exchange, read a book at the New York Public Library, visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and spent a night hitting the bars on St. Marks..." but it takes away from the fun--"and I didn't enjoy a single moment. I was just so rushed." Instead, figure out what draws you to the city. Do you watch "Sex and the City" or "Seinfeld?" Visit the same places that Miranda or Kramer do in the show. Was "The Catcher in the Rye" your favorite book? Use Holden Caulfield as your tour guide, and make sure to drop into KGB Bar or The Half King to see other writers. Maybe you're into art. Plan on visiting the Metropolitan Museum and take some time to enjoy the art galleries in Chelsea. Ask a friend for his interesting, out of the way places, and visit them. That way, you'll have bragging rights AND a good time.
Cities are interesting because of their people as much as their tourist traps. Leave some time in your schedule to just wander and go where New York, and the people who inhabit it, lead you. Ask a local what his favorite deli is, or where she likes to go on a lazy Sunday. Chances are, you'll find a spot that you never would have before and your trip will be better for it.
But if you absolutely must have particular places to visit, here's a quick list of five spots that this writer never misses:
1. Ground Zero---because on that day, we were all New Yorkers.
2. The Empire State Building---the view is spectacular.
3. The East Village---you never know what you'll find.
4. Central Park---rest and recharge for the night.
5. The New York Public Library---if it is good enough for the Ghostbusters, it is good enough for you.
