One of the reasons that traveling is so fun is the fact that every city is so unique. There are different things to do in every city, meaning that getting out and going to a new place is always going to be a new experience.
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New York City is the largest city in the US and is a city that has a ton of things for visitors to do. There's a reason that so many people visit NYC from all over the world! There are a lot of things to do in the Big Apple that you simply can't experience anywhere else in the world.
11 Visit Belvedere Castle
When we think of New York City, most people immediately think of tall skyscrapers and busy streets. It's not easy to imagine a medieval castle in the middle of the city. We typically think of castles being in more rural places, not in the middle of the big city.
That makes New York City the only place that you can see a miniature castle in the heart of the city. Belvedere Castle is located in Central Park and was designed in 1869 by two of the original designers of Central Park. It's currently the home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, housing a variety of different historic artifacts and natural samples.
10 Amateur Night At The Apollo
It's no secret that New York City is home to a ton of amazing live performances. From plays and musicals to concerts and standup comedy, there's a show for just about everyone. And if you're looking to watch some undiscovered talent show what they've got, you can't miss Amateur Night at the Apollo.
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Performers and viewers from across the world show up to the Apollo to try to show off their talents. Amateur Night has been going since 1934 and was once the stage for a young Ella Fitzgerald. Visit on a Wednesday evening to see who's going to take the stage!
9 See A Broadway Show
One thing that many visitors do when they go to New York City is get tickets to a Broadway show. There are so many different shows that are put on in the Theater District in Manhattan.
Seeing a live show is something that can be experienced in many cities, but there's something special about seeing a Broadway show while in New York City. There's a huge variety of different shows, some of which end their run after a while so another one can start, which means that there's a show for just about every visitor to see and enjoy.
8 Eat At The First Pizzeria In The US
New York City has a ton of restaurants that are great for foodies. No matter what kind of cuisine you're craving while on a trip to NYC, you won't be going hungry. There's food from just about every cuisine represented in New York City, but when we think of the Big Apple, we definitely think of pizza.
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Though many restaurants claim to have the best pizza in the city, the obsession had to start somewhere. Lombardi's was opened in 1905 an is recognized as being the very first pizzeria in the US. The pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven just like they were when it opened in the early 20th century.
7 Visit Nathan's Famous' Original Location
What would a summertime barbecue be without a hot dog? No matter what toppings you like on your dog, they're definitely delicious. New York has such a rich history and such a wide variety of different types of food, but getting a hot dog in the city is a tradition for many visitors.
Nathan's Famous is a really well-known brand of hot dogs. The brand opened their hot dog stand in New York in 1916 and has been open every single day - minus a six month period when a hurricane forced them to close - since then. This historic location gets a ton of visitors every day that get in line to get a taste of New York history.
6 Visit The Largest Art Museum
New York City has quite a few different museums that visitors can walk through and explore. There are art museums, history museums, and even some that are a little on the strange side. No matter what kind of museum you're looking for, you'll likely find one in New York City.
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Along with all the other museums in New York, the city is also the home to the largest art museum in the US and is one of the largest museums in the world. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has art pieces on display from a ton of periods throughout history and is a must for anyone who loves art and history.
5 Visit The Explorers' Club
There are a lot of super unique restaurants around New York City. Some of them have interesting themes while others feature dishes that can't be found anywhere else and are made by world class chefs. For foodies, visiting New York is something that has to be on your travel bucket list.
The Explorers' Club was founded in the early 20th century and is now a really unique part of New York City. It houses artifacts and taxidermy specimens from all over the world that have been found by members of the club and displayed here. Visitors can see a variety of different items that are on display and see how far natural research has come since the early 1900s.
4 See The Original Winnie-The-Pooh
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Winnie-the-Pooh is a character that has become beloved by children everywhere. From books, movies, and TV shows to toys and games, this stuffed bear and his friends in the 100 Acre Wood seem to be everywhere.
Little do many people know, the bear in this story was actually inspired by a real-life stuffed toy. For visitors that still feel like a kid at heart, you can see the original Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends at the Main Branch of the New York Public Library.
2 Visit The Historic White Horse Tavern
New York City is home to a lot of different locations that have been influential in the world of pop culture. From TV filming sets to hotels that celebrities were often seen staying in, there's a lot of places that the celebrity obsessed should definitely check out while visiting NYC.
For people that are fans of the music and literature scene in the 1950s and 1960s, White Horse Tavern is definitely a place that cannot be missed. It was frequented by stars like Bob Dylan, Hunter S. Thompson, Jim Morrison, and Jack Kerouac. White Horse Tavern is infamous for being one of the last places that writer Dylan Thomas visited before passing away in the Chelsea Hotel.
1 Visit Strawberry Fields
It's definitely safe to say that The Beatles made their mark on pop culture. Their music is still listened to today by fans of all ages and from all over the world. If you're someone who loves to listen to some of their hits like Hey Jude or Strawberry Fields Forever, head over to Central Park while you're in NYC.
There, you'll find a memorial dedicated to The Beatles' very own John Lennon. After Lennon's death in 1981, a part of Central Park was named Strawberry Fields in his honor. The living memorial was designed and built sometime after and is typically covered n flowers, candles, and other belongings by people that came to pay their respects to the influential musician.