Seven Great Stops on Your Next Vacay in NYC!
Wow! We just got home from a long weekend in New York City and what a great way to take on the big apple. It was high energy, great weather, fun people, and a whole new agenda from the last time we visited. On previous visits, we were most often in Midtown, taking in museums, the theater, great shopping, and incredible eats in the heart of the city. But this time we switched it up and I am so happy we did! Being that our time was limited, we took on one or two new destinations as well as enjoying a few of our NYC favorites. There's so much to do in this city – we just enjoyed what we could knowing that we would be back! So, if your travel plans have you heading to the City that Never Sleeps, then I strongly suggest you add one of these new or old favorites to your agenda – each one is a great destination. Take a look at these seven great stops on your next vacay to NYC!
1 | Hudson Yards
This new development located on the West Side Yard of Manhattan near Chelsea is full of energy! We took a tour and discovered abundant shopping, art, and dining. I recommend spending the day (or half day depending on your shopping appetite) as there is no shortage of things to do here. (I could have definitely stayed longer but, we had a concert to attend later that evening.)
The Vessel just opened this March. It is an artfully inspired spiral staircase imagined by Thomas Heatherwick. The views, the angles, and the climb was such a great experience. Enjoying this centerpiece of Hudson Yards took about 40 minutes. (Get your tickets online at no charge two weeks in advance! Same day tickets are available every morning beginning at 9:30am.) This Is An Awesome Experience!
The shops at Hudson Yards are great too. The mall is full of stores you likely have at home but, they are easy to get to here and I always love to shop on vacay when I don’t feel rushed. Don't you? The activities in the mall mixed in with the shopping were so fun!
As far as dining options at Hudson Yards, there are so many that you could eat here for days! We had several recommendations but landed on two; Mercado (Little Spain) and Citarella Gourmet Food Market. Chef Jose Andres’ Mercado's Little Spain is a great food destination. Mercardo is best described as the Spanish version of Eataly. It is 35,000 square feet of Spanish food nirvana. We enjoyed a great Spanish meal and, of course, we had lots of Sangria! Later in the day, we enjoyed the Citarella market and had some great takeout. This high-end grocery market had a million food & beverage options. All I can say is arrive hungry at Hudson Yards because there's plenty of great food!
2 | The Highline
1-part park, 1-part art, 1-part garden and full on amazing! We took the subway there one morning and walked back in the afternoon. We needed to stroll through to really take it all in. The views were spectacular. I highly recommend a morning visit. It is quieter and you are able to enjoy it with far fewer people. This is hands down David’s most favorite city park that he has seen in the US! It's really a must see.
3 | RH New York
Shop, eat and get inspired at this spectacular Restoration Hardware location which opened in September 2018. We always expect the furniture to be the best but, this location also has a great dining experience. Be ready for a wait but, also know that it is worth it. Renowned Chicago based chef Brendan Sodikoff is likely why this restaurant is so tasty and not just a beautiful place to eat. It was lovely and delicious! A quick tip - the outdoor rooftop deck has great views and no wait for seating. Grab a glass of wine or champagne from the third floor and head to the rooftop for a beautiful vista. The RH Hotel will be opening soon, and I can't wait!
4 & 5 | City Winery & Forest Hills Concert Venues
Call us crazy but, the whole reason David and I headed to NYC was for a concert. David is a huge fan of up and coming rock band Greta Van Fleet, the catalyst for our trip, they didn't disappoint.
But we actually took in two concerts while in NYC. One at City Winery and one at Forest Hills. I highly recommend the City Winery, an intimate space that attracts great artists. Located in several cities in the US this is a great music venue with an excellent wine list, of course! That Friday, the 10,000 Maniacs put on a great show.
Saturday night was all about Gretta Van Fleet. It was the first concert to kick off the summer concert series at Forest Hills Stadium. They have been hosting concertgoers for years and are well prepared for the crowds. This storied venue has welcomed the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, The Who, and all your current favorites. This is also the site of past US Opens and adjacent to the West Side Tennis Club. It's a fun outdoor concert venue with food trucks and beer gardens and lots of good energy. We had a ball!
6 & 7 | Chelsea & Brooklyn
David and I often book more than one hotel while traveling. This trip we split our time between The Moxy in Chelsea and The Hoxton in Brooklyn. We loved mixing it up and enjoying the different vibes of each property. I cannot tell you which was my favorite.
The Moxy is in the heart of the flower district so walks back to our hotel were filled with blossoms! The location was also great for getting around the city by subway or cab. I think the hotel's rooftop bar was a real highlight with its beautiful views drawing in a lot of locals every evening.
The Hoxton was incredible too. A trendy and relaxing hotel in Williamsburg, a hipster neighborhood in Brooklyn. It had so many things we loved from the rooftop deck overlooking Manhattan to the world’s smallest movie theater (two seats – ha!) to a great DJ in the lobby that inspired guests to just hang out.
I am a total fan of Brooklyn. I could write a whole post just on our stay there and the incredible restaurants where we dined. I encourage you to put the walk/run/ride across the Brooklyn Bridge at the top of your list!
Well, there you have it! A small slice of our trip back east. I could go on for days about NYC. But I’ll just end with "Get There Soon!" and enjoy!