Day 1: June 17

Landing

The first day in NYC was technically a “half-day,” considering that’s the day we landed and everything. The first thing we did was go to the hotel. Even if you arrive earlier than your check-in time most hotels will hold your luggages for you, so you don’t have to roll your luggages with you the whole day. 

The hotel we stayed at was the Hilton Club The Central at 5th New York. I very much enjoyed my stay here! The room was very clean, and the service was great! Plus, the location of the hotel was very convenient since it was right on 5th avenue. This gave me access to walking around midtown Manhattan and many tourist spots, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, New York Public Library, etc.

Joe’s Pizza

After settling our stuff at the hotel, we went and got lunch at the infamous Joe’s Pizza. If you’re planning on eating here, expect a long line, however, don’t be scared because the line is very efficient and it didn’t take more than 20 minutes for me to my pizza. I would say the line is definitely worth it, as this pizza is highly regarded as to be the best pizza in NYC!

Address: 1435 Broadway
Hours: Every day 10AM-3AM

The Drama Book Shop

The Drama Book Shop was unlike any other I’ve been to before. If you love theater and books, I highly recommend stopping by to take a look at their impressive collection! They have a cute sit-down area if you want to work on something. The bookstore is so unique and I can guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it. The store has beautiful decor, known for it’s infamous “flying” book decor, and a cozy vibe when you walk in.

Address: 266 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-7PM; Sunday 12PM-7PM

Kinokuniya USA

Kinokuniya USA was just as impressive, but in a different way. 3 stories of japanese literature, as well as english literature, and a large selection of anime merch and stationary, left me in awe. As a lover of stationary I never wanted to leave the store. I was very overwhelmed by everything they had, and if you’re looking for your next read, or a new favorite pen, be sure to visit! They had a whole collection of fountain pens, pencil cases, Japanese learning materials, and much more!

Address: 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-8PM, Sunday 11AM-7:30PM

New York Public Library

Visiting the New York Public Library is a must on your New York City itinerary, especially if you are a book lover. I absolutely enjoyed my time at the New York Public Library! The building is beautiful on both the front and the inside. The library has very interesting exhibits inside the building. I visited the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures and A Century of the New Yorker. Aside from exhibits, I also visited the McGraw Rotunda and the Salomon Room.

It’s important to know that if you want to visit the Rose Main Reading Room, you must sign up for a tour, or visit during 10-11 am Monday-Saturday. If you don’t know what the Rose Main Reading Room is, it’s one of the most popular rooms in the library and is highly regarded for it’s architecture.

Address: 476 5th Ave
Hours: Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10AM-6PM; Tue-Wed 10AM-8PM; Closed on Sunday

Summit One Vanderbilt

This tourist spot is famous for its interactive exhibitions, and unique experience. What I really enjoyed about this skyline viewing spot was it wasn’t just somewhere to look at the skyline, but it was a whole experience. There were many exhibitions from artist, some for display, and some interactive. One of the rooms was even full of many metallic balloons that many people would play with. I don’t doubt that it’s a beautiful spot to view the city skyline, however, when I went, it was cloudy, so we saw nothing. I would recommend only attending when there’s good, clear weather. 

Address: 45 East 42nd Street
Hours: Every day 9AM-12PM; Last entry is 10:30PM

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Quality Italian

For dinner, my mom and I ate at Quality Italian, located in Hell’s Kitchen. A high-end Italian restaurant, its menu was filled with delicious, authentic, Italian dishes. The restaurant has a very elegant, fine-dining vibe, and we made the mistake of not dressing up before hand. So, if you decide to dine here, dress up and have fun! I Highly recommend it if you’re willing to spend the money!

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Day 2: June 18

Central Park

The morning started off with an hourish walk through Central Park. The walk went through many of the famous spots: Grand Army Plaza, The Mall and Literary Walk, Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle, and the Shakespeare Garden. Finally, the destination was the American Museum of Natural History. Central Park is very large and there are so many sites to see, so I would recommend doing a little research on what you want to see. But, if you have a lot of time and don’t mind just walking around that’s a totally good option too!

I would definitely recommend the route that I took if you want to go to the American Museum of Natural History as well. If you’re a Gossip Girl fan, the Bethesda Fountain is a must-see as that’s where Blair and Chuck got married. Additionally Belvedere Castle was pretty and quaint, with a gorgeous view of the city from the top.

American Museum of Natural History

The museum is full of so many exhibits, and it is impossible to see them all your first time being there, so, I recommend choosing beforehand which exhibits you would like to see. Personally, I spent about 3 hours there, and saw a few exhibits. All of the exhibits in the museum have something special to offer, and as a huge fan of history I learned so much while walking through. When choosing your exhibits think about what you’re interested in. Do you want to learn something? Were you ever curious about a topic? Use these questions to help you choose your exhibits.

When I went I didn’t realize how large the museum actually was and made the mistake of not preparing beforehand, so I didn’t really get to see all the exhibits I wanted. However, I still explore quite a bit. Here are some exhibits that I saw:

• African Mammals
• African Peoples
• Asian Peoples
• Ocean Life
• Gems and Minerals
• Entire Fourth Floor (Quickly walked through)

Additionally, the museum offers unique shows talking about a variety of topics. I attended shows they had such as Encounters in the Milky Way and Worlds Beyond Earth. As for the queue, I entered through the Central Park entrance around 11 AM, and the queue wasn’t too long. I probably waited around 20 minutes, 30 minutes maximum. Something to note, for all museums, certain people do get discounts, such as New York residents, students, etc, so be sure to take advantage of those discounts. 

Address: 200 Central Prk W
Hours: Every day 10AM-5:30PM

Barnes & Noble at Union Square

If you’re a fan of literature, you must know about the infamous Barnes & Noble. I feel confident when I say that this Barnes & Noble is a must-see for every book lover. Four floors tall, there is an endless amount of books to choose from, and the way the bookshelves were arranged made it so easy to find specific books! They had a variety of books from all genres to cater to everybody’s interests. From history, to fantasy, to mystery, you can find it all here. This is a great spot for taking those aesthetic, pinterest, bookstore pictures! Plus, you can pick up a book or two while you’re stopping by!

Address: 33 East 17th Street
Hours: Sun 10AM-9PM, Mon-Thurs 9AM-9PM, Fri & Sat 9AM-10PM

SOHO

From Barnes & Noble, we made our way down to SOHO and did some shopping. If 5th Avenue is known for it’s luxurious and high-end stores, SOHO is known for all their trendy stores. You can find many older people shopping on 5th avenue, but in SOHO you will be surrounded by many younger shoppers trying to get into Brandy Melville, Edikted, or other stores for young adults. In my opinion, I think this is a much better place to go shopping than 5th avenue! If you are a shopaholic you have to go to SOHO.

Moulin Rouge

After shopping in SOHO, my mom and I went back to the hotel to get ready for our Broadway show, Moulin Rouge! As someone who has never seen the movie, and had no idea what to expect, I was blown away! The theater and sets were beautiful! The costumes were stunning, and the signing was amazing! I was so impressed by the talented actors, actresses, and dancers, and as a big fan of Jordan Fisher, I was so excited to hear him perform live!

Miss Korea BBQ

After finishing the show we were starving, so we made our way to K-town and ate at 24-hour restaurant, Miss Korea BBQ. This restaurant was delicious, and offered a wide variety of meats and side dishes. The workers were very kind, and very efficient, even at midnight. 

Address: 10 W 32nd St
Hours: Open 24 hours!

Day 3: June 19

Museum of Modern Art

Although not as big as the American Museum of Natural History, MoMA still has a lot to offer, including the infamous Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and Water Lilies by Claude Monet! Divided by years, you can view art from the 1880s to present time and from artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol! I personally love Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, so I spent much of my time on the 5th floor, which includes art from the 1880s-1940s. I also ventured to the 4th floor, and walked through art from the 1950s-1970s. If you’re an art lover this museum is a must. You’ll be able to view so many infamous works and more. I would recommend going in the morning right when it opens so it’s not too crowded. Many famous artworks such as Starry Nigth and Water Lilies gets very busy in the afternoon, so it’s best to get their early. Finally, MoMA also offers discounts for students and New York residents, so if you’re eligible for any of their discounts be sure to use it!

Address: 11 W 53rd St
Hours: Sun-Thu & Sat 10:30AM-5:30 PM; Fri 10:30AM-8:30PM

McNally Jackson Books

After MoMA, I took the subway to Downtown Brooklyn to visit McNally Jackson Books. Although they have many locations, I went to the Brooklyn location so I could visit Brooklyn, and because of the layout of the store! I’ve never visited a bookstore like this, and was grateful that I visited this location! The bookstore was two stories tall and had a gorgeous tall walls full of books with a staircase leading up to the second floor. The store provides such an amazing background for cute pictures, and has so many books to shop from. On your New York City itinerary, it’s important to take time to enjoy the ambiance of various bookstores across the city, where you can browse and discover new titles. Here’s a great bookstore to browse all the titles they offer. Plus, the store is located in a mall with a delicious food court on the ground floor.

Address: 445 Albee Square
Hours: Every day 10AM-9PM

Brooklyn Bridge

From the bookstore, I walked toward the Brooklyn Bridge, and proceeded to walk across it! If you’re visiting on a hot day be prepared to withstand the heat while walking on the bridge. The walk can certainly feel very long, but it provides an amazing view of the skyline. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of those tourist spots that is a must-see, but once you’ve already been there there’s not really a reason to go again. So, if you’ve visited New York City before go find some new places to visit!

Strand Bookstore

Strand Bookstore is one of the oldest bookstores in New York City, and a must have on your New York City itinerary. It has a large collection of books, including a rare collection! With its tall shelves, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for in here! And while you’re at it, you can go ahead and buy yourself a souvenir too! I got a tote bag!

Address: 828 Broadway
Hours: Mon-Sun 10AM-9PM

Ichiran Ramen

For dinner, we ate at a famous ramen restaurant, Ichiran Ramen. Modeled after a traditional ramen restaurant in Japan, their famous Tonkatsu Ramen was delicious! The service and experience were amazing! If you’re introvert, this is definitely a good place to eat. Seating is situated like a bar, however, there are dividers in between customers to create a sense of privacy and food is delivered through a curtain, so you never have to interact with a server. 

Address: 152 W 49th St
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11AM-10PM; Fri-Sun 11AM-10:30PM

Day 4: June 20

Today was my mom’s birthday, so we spent our day visiting the places that she had on her bucket list!

The Vessel

First thing in the morning, we visited the Vessel, located in Hudson Yards, and next to the Edge and the mall. The Edge is another observation deck, however, we did not visit the attraction. In my opinion, I think the Vessel is a very nice piece of architecture, but you won’t spend an hour staring at it. I would focus on many things around the Vessel, such as Hudson Yards, Chelsea Market, The Edge, etc.

JP Morgan Library

One of the most stunning places I visited, the Morgan Library is filled with interesting exhibitions and gorgeous architecture. An exhibition on display at the Morgan Library that I absolutely loved was the Jane Austen exhibition. This exhibition detailed Austen’s personal life and journey to becoming an author. It shows the intimate details of her relationship with her sister and nieces, and displays first editions of many of Austen’s works including Pride and Prejudice. In addition to books, the Morgan Library showcases beautiful artwork and musical compositions by Debussy and Mozart. If you’re a lover of Jane Austen and music, be sure to stop by!

Address: 225 Madison Ave
Hours: Sat-Sun, Tues-Thurs 10:30AM-5PM; Mon Closed; Fri 10:30AM-7PM

Flipper’s

For brunch, we went to a restaurant in SOHO called Flipper’s. Flipper’s serves delicious breakfast and lunch options, as well as souffle pancakes, also known as “Japanese pancakes.” This was the perfect place for us to have brunch. Their menu had a variety of options, but their souffle pancakes are a must. And just so you’re aware, they do not do reservations only walk-ins or waitlists.

Address: 337 W Broadway
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM; Sat-Sun 8AM-6PM

More Shopping!

We basically spent the rest of the day shopping and trying out deserts in SOHO, and the Flatiron district. Some bakeries we went to included Lady M Boutique, Levain Bakery, and Salswee. These bakeries had so many delicious desserts including crepe cakes, croissants, cookies, etc! However, some of the bakeries didn’t have many desserts left by the time we got there. If you want to see all the options in these bakeries I recommend stopping by earlier in the day so they’re not all sold out.

Chinatown

After a long day, we headed over to Chinatown with all the bright lights, and delicious food. We ended up eating at a cute restaurant we found while walking around. If you’re looking for good, authentic, Chinese food, you definitely don’t need to look no further.