Concrete Jungle

Our Iowa State Cyclones played Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium a few days before the new year, and Joel and I decided to make the trip. Even though our team lost, we loved New York! We spent a pretty penny on flights and hotel rooms due to the New Year’s Eve holiday, but we were able to find plenty of cheap and awesome activities around the city. It was my first time visiting New York City, so I’m not an expert by any means, but here are my top 10 favorite things to check out.

1. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

The views of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge are impressive. And while you can get a great view from Old Fulton Landing in Brooklyn as well, walking over the mile long bridge created a little bit of suspense for us. We kept looking back at Manhattan and snapping pretty much the same shot because it looked even cooler from that angle! Once we were in Brooklyn, we walked around Old Fulton Landing and through the DUMBO area. I can imagine that there would have been a lot more to see in the summertime though, so this is definitely on my to-do list for next time I make it to New York.

We ended up walking back across the Manhattan Bridge because it would spit us out right where we wanted to go next…

2. Chinatown

We could see the streets of Chinatown from the Manhattan Bridge, and our stomachs started to rumble immediately. As we walked through alleys covered with signs we couldn’t read, we debated where to grab some noodles. We passed Joe’s Shanghai and decided it was as good as any.

We could have used a rest at one of the many stores offering foot rubs, but the dumplings and noodles gave us the fuel we needed to continue onto our next stop…

3. McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley’s was established in 1854 and not much has changed since then. Sawdust covers the warped hardwood floors and dust-covered wishbones hang on the light fixture over the bar (ask the bartender about those!). The bar only serves light or dark ale, so Joel and I ordered a couple of each and scooted into the last table in the place.

The Jets game was on TV, so locals were crammed into the back room to get a view. Joel and I slurped down our drinks and promptly ordered more, all while reading the weathered newspaper clippings containing the bar’s long and controversial history framed on the walls.

4. Top of the Rock

You have to go to the top of a building to get a view of the city, whether it’s the Empire State Building or the Rockefeller Center. We chose the Top of the Rock so that we could get a picture of the Empire State Building. It was $50 well spent. The view was incredible. We even watched a proposal on the observation deck below us.

5. 9/11 Memorial

Since our hotel was across the street from the memorial, we could view the pools from the restaurant/bar on the top floor. But I’m so glad we reserved the passes to see it up close. After walking around both pools and staring at all of the names, we stopped into the museum. I can’t even put into words how hard it is to read some of the stories and look at the items that survived the event. I had tears in my eyes more than once.  

6. Times Square

What’s a trip to New York without stopping in Times Square? You just have to see it. We went twice, although neither of those times were on New Year’s Eve for good reason. The first time I walked out of the subway station and into Times Square I was in awe of the crowd, the lights and the colors.

And although it was more impressive at night, if you visit during the day you may just get a hug from the Naked Cowboy! Joel had to force me to go near him, but it’s all part of the experience.

7. Central Park

For being the end of December, we certainly got lucky with the weather on our trip. Partly cloudy and 55 degrees was perfect for a brisk walk through Central Park. We watched some ice skaters, walked past Strawberry Fields, and I even managed to get Joel to ride the carousel with me.

But next time I’m in New York City (in the summer, of course), I have aspirations of lounging on the Great Lawn and people-watching for hours.

8. Yankee Stadium

The main reason we traveled to New York was to watch Iowa State play at Yankee Stadium. Even though the outcome wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for, we had a great time tailgating (inside bars) around the stadium and cheering for our team. A Yankees game is absolutely on my list for next time around!

9. Bleecker Street

Bleecker Street is near the NYU campus and full of college bars that are a little more our speed than the clubs in the Meatpacking District. We spent New Year’s Eve bouncing around from bar to bar, playing flippy cup and counting down to the new year with a bunch of strangers. And then we went back on our last night just to experience it one more time. It was definitely our type of area.

10. Financial District

We stayed in the Financial District, so we made sure to stop by all of the touristy spots, like the Wall Street Bull and the New York Stock Exchange. The area is really crowded during the day, just like every other place in New York City, but it really slowed down at night. It was a little bit of an escape from the hustle and bustle for us, which I really enjoyed.

Besides spending more time in Central Park and going to a Yankees game next time I’m in New York, I also want to spend more time in Brooklyn. I’d like to check out Coney Island, if only because they have a roller coaster called the Cyclone! Joel and I both would like to go to Ellis Island, but it was a little too chilly for a ferry ride in January, so that also goes on our list for next time. I think I’ll take it a whole lot slower when I go back again. We crammed so much sight-seeing into our trip that my feet were still sore almost a week later from all the walking. But we had a blast in our four days in NYC!

Anything else we should put on our list for next time?