NYC in 48 Hours

The magical lights and electric energy is unavoidable in NYC. The infectious spirit will keep a tourist on a 48 hour trip able to see quite a few sights… unless their hotel has blackout shades… and they are parents of small children who haven’t slept in years… But still, even if that hypothetically happens, there are plenty of daylight and nightlife hours to enjoy the city.

NYC can be visited repeatedly and there would still be something new to discover. (If you missed our trip three years ago, you can check it out here.) This time, there was some solo exploring due to one of us having meetings all day. Our hotel was next to Grand Central Station, so, admittedly, it was a bit intimidating for this introvert to walk out of the doors into a mass of people talking a mile a minute. After a walk around the block, it was decided that it was a West Village kind of day.

That said, it is certainly a must to pop into Grand Central Station, the ultimate example of form and function.

Due to schedules, there was a lot of back and forth, but I think it may be more helpful to suggest a 2-day itinerary that makes more sense for someone staying in Midtown Manhattan.

Day 1

Head down to the West Village area. This is a great way to ease into the City. It is less saturated with people and has more of a neighborhood feel. You could “just take the Downtown to the Crosstown” as our concierge suggested or hop in a cab from Midtown.

Chelsea Market- Truth be told, I did not stop in but it would be a great place to grab a quick bite and wander a bit.

The Whitney Museum of American Art– With its expansive collection of contemporary and modern American Art, its wonderful location between the High Line and the Hudson in the Meatpacking District, and its walkability from Greenwich Village where it was founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, this museum feels unique. There is an indoor/outdoor component with a terrace on almost every floor housing a piece of sculptural art to admire. The views from the top floor are breathtaking as visitors can take in sights of the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and all of the green rooftop space the heart desires. Inside, there is something for everyone from abstract art to more well-known pieces (think Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol) to political statement pieces. It is well worth the admission fee. Plan on 2-3 hours here.

From the Whitney, you can walk half a block to the beginning/end of the High Line. This 1.45 mile green path on what was a previous New York Central Railroad spur was completed in 2014 and houses casual eateries, ice cream stands, and fantastic views.

The end/beginning of the High Line spits you out on 34^th street. It is a substantial walk back to Midtown but it can certainly be done. Or, you could exit the High Line before 34^th street or turn back and head into the West Village. There are cute shops and even cuter restaurants.

A good friend recommended Little Owl, a quaint Mediterranean Restaurant. The space is small, the service excellent, and the food spectacular (get the meatball appetizer). While eating, there were groups of people outside the restaurant taking photos. When asked, the server shared that the restaurant was at the bottom of the FRIENDS building (so, if “your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA,” this will be an added bonus).

(Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment is also in this area. We stopped by.)

Day 2

With comfort comes more need for adventure and by Day 2, we were ready to venture into Times Square for a quick photo and to tourist watch.

On the way, it was worth a small detour to pop into St. Patrick’s. We were fortunate to have been able to walk in during Good Friday on our last trip. Even to gaze at the beautiful building in the middle of this bustling city brings a sense of spiritual peace.

Head to the TKTS booth under the Red Staircase for discounted Broadway tickets. On the day that we were there, it was close to 100 degrees, so we opted for a matinee (if you are going for evening tickets, you will want to get in line around 2:30pm). We purchased our tickets to A Bronx Tale, which was excellent of course. There is just something about the history, the small theaters, and the always-on-point acting that makes a trip to Broadway a forever necessity.

In between purchasing tickets and the show, we headed to Central Park. Ideally, we would have wandered through the entire park, had brunch at the Boathouse, and walked back up Madison Avenue to see how the Upper East Side lives… but we had a late start so only just skimmed the park.

After the show, you could hit up an old favorite, Fig and Olive (there are a few around the States). On our last trip, we ate at Fig and Olive in the Meatpacking District, but this time we stuck to Midtown. The food and service are also outstanding.

To make up for our love of repeat restaurants, we moseyed over to the historic Algonquin Hotel for an after-dinner drink. This is where famous writers used to gather, including the Vicious Circle from the 1920’s. Cat person or not, don’t forget to look for The Algonquin Cat. Currently, this is the 8^th Hamlet (named for resident, John Barrymore’s famous role) following three Matilda’s.

Given a few more days, it would be fun to check out Brooklyn and SoHo. We also plan to visit the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Ground Zero on a return trip.

Like I said, New York always requires a return visit.

And, if you’re curious, here’s what I wore. (This contains affiliate links.)

Top Left: Dress (similar), Shoes (similar) Top Right: Dress (similar), Shoes Bottom Left: Dress (purchased at TJ Maxx and couldn’t find online but this would be another great option from the same designer), Shoes (similar), Purse (Use the code MACKINAW10 for 10% off the purse and anything else you purchase on their site.) Bottom Right: Dress (as close as I could find but not that similar), Shoes, Purse