Welcome back to NYC! Check out my previous posts on Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan to see what my husband and I got up to on our first trip to The Big Apple.
In this post, I’ll cover all the great things we did in the Upper West Side and Midtown Manhattan. If you’re new around here, I always take budget into consideration while traveling, and this trip was no exception! There are so many free or budget friendly activities in NYC, and I truly believe you don’t have to “go for broke” when visiting one of the most expensive cities in the U.S.
Upper West Side
After spending three nights in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we moved to our new Airbnb on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The location off W. 73rd street was perfect, just a few steps from the Hudson River and a few blocks from Central Park. I had no preconceived notions about what to expect from the Upper West Side, but we quickly fell in love with this residential area of Manhattan and it’s great restaurants. The UWS is also home to the famous American Museum of Natural History, one of the largest natural history museums in the world.
A couple of great restaurants we loved in the area were Hummus Place (which I still dream about daily), Freddie & Peppers Pizza, and the heavenly Levain Bakery. Levain Bakery has been voted “The Best Cookie in NYC” by several sources, and if the question ever arises: “Should I wait in the 30 minute line outside just to get a cookie?” The answer should quickly be: “YES!”
On our way to Central Park, we stumbled across the Grand Bazarre NYC on 77th St, where we grabbed a yummy snack and perused the booths of vintages. I highly recommend this random flea market find that’s open every Sunday of the year (during a non-COVID year, of course)! We then headed to the iconic Central Park, which spans 840 acres from 59th St to 110th St. You could literally spend all day here exploring the different areas and hidden gems.
Central Park is such a chill place to hang out; it’s a break in the middle of the Manhattan hustle! There were tons of people hanging out in the grassy fields…dog group meet-ups, runners, bikers. Good vibes, people everywhere, and great views of NYC!
Midtown
After spending a bit in Central Park, we headed down to catch some Midtown Manhattan hustle-and-bustle! Midtown is home to so many historic places like Grand Central, New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Chrysler Building, and Rockefeller Center.
The Library, with it’s Harry Potter-esque Rose Main Reading Room and gorgeous architecture, is adjacent to Bryant Park, which is a great place to catch some nice ground views of the iconic Art Deco Chrysler Building. Heading a few blocks away down 42nd Street with take you to Grand Central.
The Library and Grand Central are such beautiful places and are free to visit! Make sure to check out the Whispering Gallery and the gorgeous celestial ceilings at Grand Central.
A great way to start your evening is a visit to the MoMA, or Museum of Modern Art, on W. 53rd Street. The art of van Gogh and Warhol are among just a few at the MoMA, along with a few places to eat and a sculpture garden.
TRAVEL TIP: Admission to the MoMA is free on Friday evening from 5:30pm – 9:00pm, a savings of $25 per ticket!
No NYC trip would be complete without a trip to the top of one of the skyscrapers in the city! We chose a sunset visit to the Top of the Rock, a viewing platform located on the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center with panoramic views of NYC. I justified spending $38/ticket for Top of the Rock because it was one of very few experiences we paid for in New York, and it proved to be 100% worth it! Watching the sun set over the city was a highlight of our trip!
The iconic Empire State Building also offers a rooftop viewing space, but the views from the Top of the Rock are better in my opinion because they include the Empire State Building and stellar views of Central Park!
TRAVEL TIP: Buy tickets for the viewing platforms in advance, and be prepared for crowds at either attraction!
Cheap Broadway Tickets
Seeing a Broadway show in NYC is just a “must do,” but I was having a difficult time dropping hundreds of dollars on a single ticket! After a ton of research, I eventually stumbled across this YouTube video by a local NYC expert with so many helpful tips on finding reduced Broadway tickets. Using the Lincoln Center Theatre LincTix website, I found two second row tickets ($32 each) for a matinee performance of My Fair Lady, which also happened to be on our anniversary! There are many other ways to pick up reduced tickets, like taking a gamble with the lottery system or visiting the TKTS booths around the city. With a little patience and research, you can find some great deals, even on tickets to Hamilton or Book of Mormon!
I loved staying in the Upper West Side and would recommend it to anyone wanting to explore around Manhattan. The delicious restaurants, proximity to Central Park, and easy access to trains, make it the perfect spot to enjoy all that Manhattan has to offer. Stay tuned for more budget adventures, including travelling during the COVID pandemic!
Down the Highway My Way 