New York, New York...the city so great, they named it twice! As America's biggest and busiest city, covering five boroughs and 304 square miles, it'll be a challenge to see everything the city has to offer in 48 hours, but if you keep up the fast pace that the city is known for, you might be able to hit some of the most popular attractions in town... and this tour only covers Brooklyn and Manhattan! Be prepared to be dazzled by the bright lights of the big city, because a trip to NYC is sure to be a whirlwind adventure.
Start your trip by walking across the historic Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan into Brooklyn. The views are picture-perfect, and the bridge itself is quite beautiful as well. Just, whatever you do, don't accidentally walk in the bike lane: that's a dead giveaway that you're a tourist!
Head down to the harbor and hop on a ferry out to NYC's most famous icon: the State of Liberty. Whether you've bought tickets to tour the museum in the pedestal and to access the crown, or you just want a closer view of Lady Liberty, it's definitely something to cross off your bucket list.
The Empire State Building might not be New York's tallest skyscraper any more (with the completion of One World Trade Center), but it's still the city's most iconic! At 102 stories, it was the world's tallest building from 1930-1970, which is an impressive run, and its gorgeous art deco exterior makes it all the more worth visiting. It might seem like a touristy thing to do, but you won't regret making the journey to the observation deck at the top once you see the views!
Another popular spot to visit in NYC, Rockefeller Center is also an art deco skyscraper that offers great views of the city. If you happen to be visiting in the winter, you can go for a spin on the fabled ice skating rink, or if you're a TV buff, you can marvel at the history here: shows like the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, the Tonight Show, Thirty Rock, and of course, Saturday Night Live are filmed here.
Designed in the 19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, every year around 40 million people traipse around New York's Central Park, a lush oasis, smack dab in one of the busiest and most-populated cities in the world. You could spend days exploring the 843 acres of hiking trails, walking paths, lakes, gardens, museums around the perimeter, and more (there's even a zoo, and the 19th century Belvedere Castle).
End your trip through the Big Apple with a view of Times Square, all lit up at night. You'll fully appreciate why they say that New York is a city that never sleeps once you've experienced the hustle and bustle here. You don't need to stop in any of the touristy attractions (although you totally can if you want) to get the Times Square experience: just take it all in!
Winters are cold and snowy in NYC, but the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and Christmas in New York are absolutely magical. Spring is also a nice time to visit, before the heat and smog of summer set in... but there's no denying that warmer weather makes all of the walking that you'll be doing a lot more pleasant.