The 5 bucket list items you must do in New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are maaaade of. Oh New York, what an amazing time it was. I was there for only five days, which was of course way too short. It is absolutely necessary to plan everything a bit well and to make choices about what you do and do not want to do. I made an ultimate bucket list top 5 for that; if you only have a little time in New York, these are the things you really want to do.
1. A Broadway musical
Seriously: even if you don't like musicals, this is so special to experience. The choice is really enormous, so make sure to dive into the different shows and who is in them. You can find the list of all Broadway shows at this site (and there you can also book the tickets). I eventually chose Aladdin, at The New Amsterdam Theater (which is also really beautiful inside) and it was truly an unforgettable evening. The singing, the dancing, the acting; all so good. When I was in New York in 2015, I also went to a Broadway musical, back then to Chicago. Another recommendation (and they are still playing it).
2. 9/11 Museum
Recently I saw a couple of influencers on YouTube who were in New York and called the 9/11 Museum ‘boring’. I truly cannot understand that: it is so impressive and so important. I am now 33 and my peers all still remember exactly where they were when they heard that the planes flew into the WTC. It was so surreal to see on TV, and New York (all of America) has really never been the same since. The museum is not large, but very well organized: they make it very personal, telling a lot about the stories behind the victims. In the different rooms, you are taken through the day: what happened when they heard about the first plane? The immense sense of connection is beautifully depicted; the people who wrote their blood type on signs in the street so they could donate. I cannot describe this museum in words, it is that impressive. Tip: book in advance. It is even cheaper to buy a CityPASS which allows you to go to this museum, but also lets you do other activities. Think of the Met Museum or the Guggenheim, but also the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, or rent bikes in Central Park. Really an ideal way to see as much of the city as possible for a good price.
3. Walking the High Line
You won't be surprised that New York is busy. And yet there is a way to seek out peace while still keeping that New York feeling: walking the High Line. This is an old railway above the city, from the Meatpacking District to Chelsea (or vice versa). Walking the entire High Line takes only about thirty minutes, so you can easily fit that in. It is, especially in spring and summer, very green and because it is above the roads, you have really beautiful viewpoints. You can even see the Statue of Liberty in the water from certain spots.
4. Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
You might not expect it, but walking the Brooklyn Bridge is quite a trek: it is almost two kilometers long. It is definitely a recommendation to walk it, and when you are in Brooklyn, you absolutely must not skip Brooklyn Bridge Park. You have beautiful viewpoints here and also the famous photo spot in Dumbo, which you can find at the intersection of Washington Street and Water Street.
5. Biking through Central Park
Walking is also an option, but you quickly underestimate the size of the park: it is enormous. By biking, you see as much of Central Park as possible and it is also very cheap with the Citi Bike app. The locations in Central Park that you really don't want to miss are Bethesda Terrace, Strawberry Fields, Loeb Boathouse, Belvedere Castle, and The Great Lawn.
