New York: You Could Have It All

Manhattan Skyline from Top of the Rock

I had previously pondered whether Rio de Janeiro was the best city on earth, and came to the conclusion that it was the best city we had been to but did make the clarification that we had in fact not been to the Big Apple.

Now that we have seen NYC at it's finest I can confirm, that for us there is no real winner. I will say I think NYC is probably, marginally, slightly, a better place to holiday than Rio, but given my coastal upbringing, there is no way I could ever live somewhere there isn't a beach. Unless there is a mountain and snow, then I'd be ok.

There is so much to see and do in New York so I thought I'd share our favourites of the city that never sleeps. Truly, it doesn't. I think it's the only place we have been to where the subway doesn't close, and you can find as many bars open at 5am as you can at 3am. That last part may be a slight exaggeration, but not as big as you might think.

So firstly, if you are ever in NYC have a night out on the town. Whether it's a bar hopping night to nowhere in particular, or spending a night out in Greenwich Village, or traversing the city to catch all the Hollywood/TV themed bars, it doesn't really matter. Depending on what sort of fan you are, our best night out took us from a Will Ferrell themed dive bar called Stay Classy, where one might like to wet one's whistle with an 'Great Odin's Raven', 'We're Going Streaking' or 'Milk was a Bad Choice'; to Two Bit's - a bar filled with arcade games where you can get a bucket of tall boy PBRs for under 20 bucks and settle who truly is the world's strongest man; to our final destination, Coyote Ugly, complete with bar-top dancing, but thankfully no singing, to go along with it.

New York All Nighter - Tick!

Our next recommendation would be to take in the Manhattan Skyline. There are a number of ways to do this, some pricey and some cheap, but all worth a look into. If you want to get up high and toursity, you can go up the One World Trade Center (the new world trade center, and the tallest of the three), or if you want to stay traditional there is of course the Empire State Building, but our pick of the lot would be Top of the Rock. They are all the same price, but TOTR actually grants you views of the other two, as well as Central Park. And given the other two are somewhat more iconic in nature I would prefer to have them in the 100 photos I took of the same scene. Fair to say I may have gone overboard.

Panoramic view north from TOTR (above) towards Central Park & south (below) towards Lower Manhattan 

There is also a totally free way to see the Manhattan Skyline, and even if you're not as big a cheapskate as me, it's well worth it. Well given it's free, it would want to be! Heading over to Brooklyn is not only a great idea simply to check out one of the other Boroughs, along with Brooklyn Bridge (which is a must in itself), we would recommend walking over the Manhattan Bridge as well. I reckon it gives possibly the best view of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge in the city.

Not a bad spot for an arvo stroll

Taking in the Statue of Liberty is also worth throwing on your tourist wish list. Again there are a couple of ways to do this, all varying in price. If you don't have much time to spare, and like things done on the cheap, taking the Staten Island Ferry across the bay is a no brainer. Not only is it free, they run on the half hour and there is no way you'll miss out on getting on board. It also grants you amazing views of Lower Manhattan from the waterline, plus Brooklyn Bridge, and if your camera has a half decent zoom, you'll get the iconic photo of Lady Liberty herself.

Probably my favourite 'free' view of the city

You can also do the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island cruise which allows you to hop off and climb the statue itself,  and check out the history of Ellis Island, which was cool but by no means a 'must do'. If you're pushed for time stick with option one. You can also jump on board bay and harbour cruises, but I really believe the first two options have all bases covered.

Lady Liberty from all angles

Heading along to a sporting event is also a must do in New York. Depending on the season of your visit, and your budget, New York offers a veritable smorgasbord of sports that surely one will capture your imagination. If you're after cheap, head along to a Nets game. They may suck at the moment but let's not hold that against them. Or if baseball is in season, we have been told you can pick up cheap tickets to either a Mets or Yankees game. At the moment you couldn't go wrong with either. But seriously, even if you're not a sports fan, head along to one anyway. American sporting contests are just as much about the game itself, as the sideline entertainment. Be it tailgating before an NFL game, the hotdogs and pretzels at a ball game (oh and singing along to 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'), the Dance and Kiss Cams at NHL games, or the cheerleaders and halftime show at an NBA game, you will be entertained!

Just a small sample of the sports on offer

And if sport really, really isn't your thing, go to a show of some sorts. You really can't go wrong with a Broadway show: throw in when you win lottery tickets to 'Matilda' and you may have a somewhat biased opinion, but I don't think many people walk away from a show dissatisfied. Miss Trunchbull you saucy lady!

Matilda the Musical @ Shubert Theatre

There is also a pretty big comedy scene in New York. From free shows, which can definitely be hit or miss, to famed venues such as the Comedy Cellar or the Comedy Club, you can find something that suits your wants and needs. I must warn you that you do get what you pay for, with a few of the free shows we ventured into getting us into some pretty awkward situations. There is just something unnerving about a stand-up guy crashing and burning. But I will say the Comedy Cellar was probably the best stand-up show I have ever scene.

Again, depending on your time frame we would highly recommend taking in a walking tour or two, especially to those places not in downtown Manhattan, but that one is pretty good anyway. Harlem was awesome to walk around, as was the Bronx, well more awesome was the fact we didn't get mugged but still. Checking out more than just Manhattan is definitely worth it if you have the time, but don't sweat it if you don't.

Harlem Walking Tour

If Museum's are you thing, you're in the right place. They are pretty pricey but you can always do things on the cheap. The pick of the lot for us, and possibly one of the best museums we have ever been to (and we have been to our fair share of museums) would be the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It has only opened in the last 12 months, and whether it is because it is on such a tragic event that was in our lifetime, or the fact that we have been to more WWII museums than we can count, I don't think I have been moved by anything quite so much. And we have been to Gallipoli. It is pretty pricey to get in to, but if you're in the know, Tuesday's give free entry to about 500 people after 4pm. Yeah we were in the know!

Not the museum itself, but the 9/11 Memorial Pools and the new One World Trade Center

And then there are the Art Museums. It would be safe to say that I am no fan of art, but a few of them are worth a look. The MET is a pay-as-you-wish donation, so go on and give them a dollar and really feel like you're getting your money's worth. They ask for $25 each but a friend highly recommended going the dollar road but we just couldn't go that low, instead we met somewhere in the middle (more like the lower side of middle!). The MET is huge, and impressive and all that, but there is only so much art one can take in. And don't even get me started on Modern Art. But as it was pointed out to me, I may not be the most creative of beings out there, so maybe it is just me.

Outside the Natural History Museum, the 'Dick Chair' inside the MOMA & on the steps of the MET

There is also the obvious places like Central Park and Times Square, which are all New York City to a tee and it would be remiss of me to leave them out. But really there isn't much more to say about them than just go an have a sticky beak.

And lastly, but by no means leastly, is the food of New York. 

There are the street carts which can satisfy practically any urge you've got. Mexican, Halal, Middle Eastern, Italian, All American, sweet, savoury, some things you don't even know what they are, and yeah Mexican again! It would not have been fair of me to not try a hot dog or pretzel, but it did take me until the last hour of our time to tick that box. Probably because there is so much else on offer.

The tip of the bunch would be your very own food tour of Greenwich Village. Pizza is the top ticket item, and grabbing a slice from Artichokes, Joe's, John's, or my all time favourite Bleeker Street, is a sure way to fall in love with the place. But don't just take my word for it!Or you could just grab a 99 cent slice from some other place. You won't be disappointing.  Mamoun's, the first falafel place in NYC, is probably the best priced feed in New York, and Bantam Bagels do bagels like you've never seen before. Try the 'Birthday Cake' one and thank me later. We even managed to satisfy the glutard in the group, with Nic finding, BabyCakes, a gluten and lactose free cupcake place, right around the corner from Cafe Grumpy if coffee is your vice.

Greenwich Village's Finest!

Oh and then there is Chinatown and Little Italy. Shite, this could go on for ages. Get yourelf to a dumpling house, and a hand pulled noodle bar, and any place with a lunch special. And maybe get yourself a '100% genuine' Prada bag and a Rolex whilst you're there.

Thanks to all those we caught up with, stayed with, and shared a few drinks and laughs with. It is always the people who make the place, and NYC is definitely at the top of our list, and that's not to mention one of the best Christmas' I ever had, or easily one of the top 3 NYEs I've had the pleasure of not remembering.

I don't know which was a drunker night!

Ah New York. I don't think I could live there, I'm too Australian for that, but you sure are one hell of a place to visit. No doubt we will be back at some stage, but in the meantime, don't change too much.

One more, well three more, views of that skyline