When my family decided to go to New York City, New York over spring break last year, I dove into the planning process. I spent weeks and weeks compiling suggestions and tips from blogs and videos on TikTok before crafting my final itinerary. My dedication paid off, as I was able to pack a ridiculous amount of activities into five days in the Big Apple.
New York City exceeded all of my expectations. Even though I saw so much, I began planning my next trip as soon as I returned to Cleveland. Here is my pitch for why you should start planning your trip to “the city that never sleeps.”
- Broadway
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I am a huge Broadway girl, and an all-consuming obsession with a show and its soundtrack typically always convinces me to splurge on a trip to New York, and “Hadestown” is what drew me out the first time. At the time, the cast was star-studded with the incredible Jordan Fisher (“Teen Beach Movie”) and Lola Tung (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), who told the heart-wrenching tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. I also got to see my favorite New Directioner Darren Criss (“Glee”) as Seymour in the off-Broadway production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
If you are worried about the cost, there are digital rush and lottery options, as well as in-person, that many people use to snag discounted ticket prices. Last month, I won the digital lottery to see the phenomenal Rachel Zegler (“Hunger Games: The Battle of Songbirds & Snakes”) and Kit Connor (“Heartstopper”) in “Romeo + Juliet,” and my sister and I were immediately on the next flight out.
There are so many unique shows on Broadway right now. I truly believe that there is something out there for everyone. I love to recommend “Moulin Rouge” to my friends who are a little more “normal” about theatre than I am. Its extravagant sets, costumes, kick lines and catchy mashups of pop hits make it fun for anyone.
For book lovers, classics like “The Great Gatsby” and “The Outsiders” are currently on the big stage. Additionally, so many new shows are getting ready to open, with stars like Lizzy McAlpine and Sadie Sink making their way to the big stage in the next few months.
- unique museums
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New York City has museums for everything. Let New York City’s unique potpourri of museums to choose from be why you decide to visit the city.
My family and I went to Madame Tussauds and saw wax versions of everyone from Harry Styles to the Incredible Hulk. There were politicians, pop stars, models and TV show/movie icons — basically anyone you can think of.
I was a bit worried that wax figures would creep me out, but Madame Tussauds ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip to NYC. If you love celebrity culture and want to take a selfie with Ariana Grande or be a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” you will have an amazing time at Madame Tussauds.
If you are a Broadway fan like me, I cannot recommend the Museum of Broadway enough. There is a lot to learn about Broadway’s history and how it has changed over time. The museum is filled with props and costumes used in productions and handled by your favorite Broadway icons.
My sister and I got a kick out of seeing an autographed pair of boots worn by our favorite musical genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda. There is even a 360-degree miniature model of the Gershwin Theatre, which is home to “Wicked.” It is complete with Elphaba getting painted green in her dressing room, the orchestra practicing for the show, Glinda’s bubble and audience members buying merchandise in the lobby.
Perhaps my favorite part of the museum was the endless photo opportunities — even the bathrooms were themed!
New York City is packed with celebrated art museums like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum or the Museum of Modern Art.
For my sister, an art student, visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art was her personal heaven. My brother also loved seeing the weapons and armory.
My favorite part was The Temple of Dendur — an ancient Egyptian temple housed within the museum. My family and I also went to the Intrepid Museum and got to walk through the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid from WWII. We toured the USS Growler — a nuclear missile submarine from the Cold War. We also saw an incredible variety of military aircrafts.
New York State has a museum for virtually every interest and fascination, and these are just a fraction of the incredible lineup of museums New York has to offer.
New York City is also home to the Museum of Ice Cream, Mercer Labs and ARTECHOUSE New York, among other modern, unique and immersive experiences you cannot find elsewhere.
- shopping
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New York City has so many fun shopping spots. My family and I went to shops like M&M’s World and Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square. If you have a sweet tooth, you need to visit some of New York City’s candy shops and buy bags full of sweet treats from their huge selections. My sister left with a shirt with the green M&M’s face on it and an M&M shopping bag.
New York also has toy stores like the American Girl Doll Store, the Lego Store and the Nintendo store. My sister and I went into FAO Schwarz for Build-a-Bears and the iconic Jellycat Diner, then upstairs to the Barbie floor to pose in a life-sized Barbie box.
We also shopped some in SoHo and popped into iconic shopping spots and boutiques. New York is riddled with souvenir shops. I could not stop myself from purchasing a pair of the “I love NYC” pajama pants with little yellow taxis on them.
While the rain stopped us from hitting as many stores as we would have liked, I would love to go back and explore everything New York City has to offer. If you are a big shopper, New York is for you. I loved seeing so many unique shops, and it took some real self-control to not spend every cent I had.
Anna Thetard / Her Campus - food
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NYC’s incredible food and restaurant scene is reason enough to vacation in The Big Apple. When I was there, we went to so many unique food spots.
One of my favorites was the Sugar Factory where I ordered multicolored cheeseburger sliders, and my siblings and I split one of the restaurant’s signature goblets. These goblets — which are huge cocktails — are designed and taste-tested by stars like Kendall Jenner or Kevin Hart. Filled with candy gummies and poured over dry ice so that smoke seemingly tumbles over the top of the glass, this was probably my most unique dining experience in New York City.
We also got breakfast at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, known not only for its cinnamon roll pancakes and milkshake selection but also for its singing waitstaff! We dined on french toast and waffles while waiters circled the restaurant belting show tunes between orders.
We later went to Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery, a spot known for its cheesecake. It had an amazing retro feel and my family and I were obsessed with it.
New York is, of course, known for its bagels, pizza and hot dogs. We got delicious hot dogs at Times Square and rainbow-colored bagels with an impressive array of cream cheeses at Liberty Bagels — I have dreamt of these bagels every night since I left.
New York City’s booming Broadway scene, fascinating museum options, unmatched shopping opportunities and delicious food make it the perfect getaway. There is so much to do and explore in New York. Its diversity in experiences and activities makes it great for a family trip because there is something for everyone to enjoy!
I love going to New York because it never disappoints and I never fail to have an amazing time. If you are contemplating your next vacation, let this be a sign to visit New York City.