With a population of more than 8.5 million and approximately 50 million visiting the city each year, it is no secret that New York City is a bigg'un. Manhattan alone spreads across an area of 59km2
There is simply so much to do in New York that many would agree makes it impossible to see and do everything that 'should be done' on a touristy trip to the Big Apple.
I was fortunate enough to spend a long weekend in the city last year and, frankly, I thought NYC was sublime. However, four days is not a lot of time in a place that is as big as this city is but I felt I accomplished a pretty considerate amount.
If you plan to see the touristy sites of New York, I thoroughly recommend the New York City Pass. It costs $116 per person and gives you entry into six attractions. It can be used over nine days and comes in a handy booklet.
I found that the pass gives you a sense of purpose and makes deciding what places to visit on your long weekend just that much easier.
(I can assure you that I was not to paid to say that nor did I receive free passes. I just appreciated their existence!)
The First 25 Hours
Our first stop in New York was the Circle Line tour to give us a view of the city from the outskirts before tackling the centre. The 90-minute trip takes you down the Hudson River, past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and back up the Hudson on the Brooklyn side of New York, before heading back to Hell's Kitchen where it leaves from. The live commentary was informative and entertaining but was not so intense that it detracted from the truly incredible views of the skyscrapers. The boat slows down past the Statue of Liberty to allow visitors to take as many pictures as possible, which is fortunate because the majority attempt to take individual shots of every member of their family with that iconic background. I, unashamedly, was one of them.
Tip: if visiting during summer, head out on the boat trip before noon when it is slightly cooler and then take a trip to the deli just up from SPOT Canine Club on 42nd Street for lunch. The Italian omelette I had there was divine.
In the afternoon, we took the subway to Ground Zero to visit the memorial and museum of the horrific events of 9/11. Leave at least 2.5 hours for the museum to give it the time it deserves as there are hundreds of accounts, pictures, videos and artifacts from the attack. Both the museum and memorial are fitting tributes to those who suffered that fatal day.
There, you will also see the One World Trade Center- also known as the Freedom Tower- which was built on the site of the Six World Trade Tower that was destroyed following the collapse of the North Tower during the September 11 attacks.
A 10-minute walk from Ground Zero takes you to Wall Street, which, although short, is a road that simply must be visited due to its historical, cultural and financial significance.
In the evening on Day One, jet lag got the better of us and we went for a quick Shake Shack for dinner. Don't get me wrong, fast food usually is not my thing in the slightest, but a burger, chips and milkshake did just the trick after a packed day in the city.
The Second 25 Hours
Having seen New York City from water, we used our pass to see it this time from a higher perspective- from the top of the Empire State Building. For me, if anything is obligatory to see in NYC, it is the world's most famous skyscraper. Our passes meant that we did not need to queue for tickets and also allowed us two trips up the tower- once during the day and once after 10pm.
Tip: We got to the Empire State Building at around 10am and barely queued but in the evening we arrived at 10pm and queued for over an hour. Arrive as early as possible both during the day and at night.
The Empire State Building is about one minute from Macy's so, after an hour of admiring the view, we headed into the store for our first bit of shopping.
Our afternoon activities involved a monster walk down 5th Avenue, where we visited Grand Central Station and stopped off for a picnic lunch outside New York Public Library. We then walked through Central Park for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Once again, the Met was part of the Pass and, if you're struggling to decide which of NYC's many, many museums to visit, this is the one. It has got art galleries, tomb structures, Henry VIII's armour, 60s furniture... We spent four hours at the Met and only managed to do the ground floor- save time for this one.
Tip: visit the Egyptian section. You will not be let down.
That night, we got a cab back to the hotel and had takeaway pizza before setting off to go back to the Empire State Building for our night session, which was an added bonus. New York lit up is a magnificent sight (but if you only go up once, go during the day).
The Third 25 Hours
For our third day of venturing in New York, we got the subway to DUMBO, Brooklyn to meet with our American family members for breakfast. Having seen Brooklyn Bridge in so many pictures and films, it was brilliant to be able to walk the whole way across. Once we were back in Manhattan, we explored the southern part of the city centre. We finished our afternoon stroll at Battery Park, which provides a view from afar of the Statue of Liberty. We were very near the departure point for the Staten Island Ferry, which is free, and whilst we did not go on it, then was the time to do so.
In the evening, we took to the heart of New York City- Times Square. The buzzing atmosphere combined with the bright lights of advertisements was euphoric. The square was packed with people and you can easily spend thirty minutes or so gazing at the surroundings. Do not leave New York City without visiting Times Square.
Off the square are streets and streets of musicals. We made a special trip to 46th Street to see the exterior of Hamilton (which I had tried and failed to win tickets to in the ballot every single day) and this was coincidentally timed to coincide with the performers leaving the theatre's stage door, where many of them stop to sign programmes and take photos with their fans.
The Last 25 Hours
For our last full day in the Big Apple, we started with a trip to the National Museum of American History. Fans of 'Night at the Museum' will want to give this place at trip as this was the museum that it was based on. The museum has an alarming amount of stuffed animals as well as dinosaur bones and science exhibitions. With our NYC Passes, we got entry into one of two IMAX 3D films that were on show, so we opted for the one on America's natural parks. The 43-minute film basically makes you wish that you were next off to Yellowstone National Park or the Everglades. 
We then walked across Central Park to the Soloman R. Guggenheim Museum. Mainly featuring Impressionist to contemporary art, the eccentric design of the building makes for a really pleasant visit because you walk down a ramp as you admire the artwork. There are pieces from Bauer, Picasso and Kandinsky, as well as many other modernist artists.
For our last evening, we walked to the Rockefeller Centre. At Christmas, there is an ice rink and Christmas tree set up in the square which you may recognise as the place that Jovie and Buddy go on their first date in the film Elf. There is a Lego shop and Nintendo shop off the square so fans of these will want to give the Rockefeller and its gorgeous display of flags a visit.
Near the square is Trump Tower, if you fancy giving that a glare...
From the Rockefeller, we walked past Radio City Music Hall, which is home to dance group the Rockettes, and headed to Ellen's Stardust Diner. In my opinion, if you are into musicals, this restaurant is a necessity. Spread across two floors, this is the home to singing waiters and waitresses. One moment the very friendly staff will be serving you a burger and the next moment they will be singing 'Bring Him Home' from Les Miserables. It's a surreal experience that even the non-musical fans of my family enjoyed.
Tip: they serve their nachos cold so, unless you bizarrely enjoy your nachos cold, do not order them. Also, bring dollar notes for tipping as there is an emphasis on this.
On our way back to the hotel, we waved goodbye to the illuminations of Times Square for the final time.
If You Have 100+ Hours...
Our flight time the next day meant that we were able to visit the High Line on NYC's Lower West Side. It is a 1.45-mile walkway that has been designed around an old railway track and provides gorgeous views of New York's urban streets. Flowers, plants, statues and benches line the path the entire way and there are lifts so that everyone can access this incredible place. Two-thirds of the way down are a few stalls selling souvenirs and treats but we ventured off the walkway to Star On 18, whose milkshakes I could not recommend more. For anyone wanting to experience a retro American diner, Star On 18 is the place. Off the end of the walkway is the Whitney Museum of American Art for anyone who has the time to make a fuller day out of the trip and near there is a playground with views over the Hudson River. Frankly, I would make the High Line a must-do on anyone's New York agenda.
Having spent 4.5 days in New York City, I felt that I managed to see a considerable amount of the sights that I wanted to see. A day or two extra would have been nice to see a baseball match, visit the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park and taken the Staten Island ferry but, ultimately, my 100 hours (or so) proved that you can definitely accomplish a lot if you have a plan.
If you are taking a trip to NYC in the near-future, have a brilliant time!
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