The Big Apple is an exciting destination for friends, families, school groups, church members and business teams. The city boasts many famous landmarks, attractions, viewpoints and an intriguing mix of neighborhoods. While it’s impossible to explore all of them in a day — or a week — with proper planning, you can enjoy some of the most prominent attractions around the city during a one-day visit.
Before chartering a reliable ride that prioritizes your safety and comfort, create an itinerary of all the NYC places you’d like to see. With limited time on your hands, you’ve got to go in with a plan. Here are some must-see sites in New York to get the inspiration flowing.
If you want to experience New York in its full glory, you must take a walk in Times Square. The tourist hot spot gives you a feel of the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. It’s among the world’s busiest pedestrian streets, lined with gigantic digital billboards, talented street performers, live music shows and a whole range of businesses.
If you walk through Times Square or people-watch from one of the many restaurants in the morning, keep an eye out for shows like Good Morning America and the Today Show. And don’t miss a chance to experience the historic Hard Rock Cafe New York, the Paramount Building and the M&M store. There’s also no better place to buy your New York City souvenirs than one of the many gift and specialty shops in Times Square. There’s the Disney Store, Yankees Clubhouse and countless other shops where you can pick up an “I Love NYC” T-shirt.
Central Park is among the oldest and most-visited urban public parks in the United States. The park covers about 843 acres, or 1.3 square miles, of Manhattan and was established over 150 years ago to facilitate the recreational needs of the fast-growing city. Central Park provides New Yorkers and visitors a place to escape the busy and stressful city life.
The serene park is covered with green lawns, Instagrammable trees, broad lakes, winding streams, rolling slopes and stunning valleys. It’s also home to several animal species, including chipmunks, geese, ducks, squirrels and bunnies. When you only have a few hours to explore Central Park, take your pick of attractions like the Conservatory Water, the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, the Central Park Zoo and the Belvedere Castle.
An iconic symbol of midtown Manhattan, the Rockefeller Center is a complex of buildings and plazas that house television studios, theatres, corporate headquarters, shops and restaurants. Some of the most iconic attractions you can see include the 70-story skyscraper that houses NBC studios, hundreds of historic art pieces and the Associated Press Building.
You can catch 360-degree views of the city from the Top of the Rock observation decks, explore and relax at the Channel Garden, and shop at the NBC store. Around the holidays, you can skate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center and check out the legendary Christmas tree. Another major attraction worth experiencing is the modern-style gardens on the seventh floor of Rockefeller Center. Looking to enjoy an elaborate dinner in New York? Make a reservation at the Rainbow Room for an unforgettable experience that includes fine dining, excellent skyline views and pleasant service.
Spend part of your day in New York exploring the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to better understand the events that led up to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001. The memorial is free and open to the public every day of the week, but you pay for admission to the museum.
The museum blends architecture, archaeology and history to tell the story of the attacks. You can explore artifacts, imagery and rotating displays that pay tribute to the people who were affected. The museum also hosts events and programs online and offline to deepen your understanding of the attack’s continued impact on the United States and the world. You can support the museum by purchasing books, keepsakes and apparel at the Museum store.
Your day trip to New York isn’t complete without catching a live Broadway show. New York’s Theatre District is home to over 40 theatres, each with a minimum capacity of 500 seats. Bus trips to Broadway are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will bring you closer to your travel buddies in more ways than you can imagine.
Live Broadway shows are exhilarating because you get to indulge in the work of top-tier actors, orchestras and designers. You can enjoy elaborate performances in Broadway staples like “Wicked” or “Chicago,” catch a revival of a classic musical like “Sweeney Todd,” check out a newer option like “The Notebook” or “MJ” or opt for more family-friendly shows like “The Lion King.” It’s best to buy your tickets a few weeks, or even months, in advance. You can also often enjoy discounted rates for groups of more than 10 people.
End your day trip by visiting the Empire State Building. Take in all of New York’s breathtaking beauty from one of the enclosed observatory decks, either 86 floors (1,050 feet) or 102 floors (1,250 feet) above Manhattan streets. On bright days, you can catch clear and stunning views of up to six states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In the evening, you can enjoy panoramic views of the neon-lit New York skyline.
While the Empire State Building has spacious and fully air-conditioned waiting areas, you should book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and waiting times. You’ll also appreciate the opportunity to take and post photos from the world’s most photographed building.
Executive Coach is a luxury bus charter company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We offer regional day trip transportation for small and large groups in the most comfortable luxury motorcoaches. We can help you plan and schedule one-day bus trips to NYC at affordable prices and with a guarantee of the highest quality customer service.
Our team is made of professionals who enjoy and strive to provide customers with the best travel experience. Contact us for more information on how we can help you plan an amazing day trip to New York. If you have your itinerary ready, request a free quote for your NYC bus trips.
