Four Days in New York City
My family recently took a trip to New York City over the Thanksgiving holiday and we had quite the travel guide (my sister Kenzi lives in Manhattan). Since not everyone can have a personal travel guide, I’ll share our daily itinerary below.
For overall recommendations on New York City, visit New York City for Thanksgiving.
Day One - Wednesday
Welcome to NYC!
On day one, travel to the Big Apple. With so many people living in the city, there are three close airports to choose from. LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark are all reasonable options. For transportation, use Ubers, taxis or the subway system.
Based on your airline, I would suggest you find a recommended restaurant of your choice and hit a Broadway show.
One mistake I made the first time I traveled to New York is that Broadway is not one theater, but multiple with plenty of shows.
Lastly, on day one, visit 5th Ave and look at the Christmas lights and window displays. They’re beautiful and Saks 5th Ave has a light show every few minutes.
Day Two - Thursday
Experience the holiday festivities.
If you’re going to New York over Thanksgiving, you must go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The parade is free unless you have reserved seats. You can have a great view without reserved seats, just plan on going early. At least two hours before the parade starts, plan on finding your spot along the parade route. I would recommend a corner or a curb to sit on. The balloons do go high in the sky, so don’t worry if you’re not the closest to the parade route.
Be prepared for a lack of bathrooms available! Become a customer or find a spot close to your hotel so you’re not uncomfortable.
Next, visit Central Park. Central Park has many attractions but the best is the ample green grass and trees in the middle of the city. Take a stroll through this large park while in the city!
Two other places to stop by that will not close is Time’s Square and Union Station. Both are always bustling and a New York City staple.
The last thing to do on Thanksgiving day is enjoy the holiday with your guests. Be sure to make a reservation if you’d like to visit a restaurant!
Day Three - Friday
Head towards Wall Street.
Wall Street is a historic area that will keep you busy all day.
First, visit the Charging Bull. Made famous by many movies, the line gets long to take a photo with the bull.
Then, head to the Stock Exchange.
The Stock Exchange building no longer allows tours but is a great building to admire. Note the statue of the young girl outside, which stands for women’s equality and strength.
Next up, head to the ferry and make your reservation to tour Ellis Island.
As a history buff, I loved visiting Ellis Island! The ferry leaves Manhattan and makes stops at Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. Our group decided to not visit the Statue of Liberty because it’s a lot of stairs and we got sufficient photos from the ferry. We did spend hours at Ellis Island and I could’ve spent more, reading the stories of those who passed through the island and learning about the history of our country. Be sure to listen to the audio tour while at Ellis Island!
Give yourself a few hours at Ellis Island and then hop on the ferry back to Manhattan. From there, you’re a few blocks away from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
The memorial is a must see while in New York City. Be sure to book tickets ahead of time if you’d like to visit the museum! They sell out fast. If tickets aren’t available, the memorial is a beautiful space that allows visitors to remember and honor the heroes that were taken on September 11, 2001.
Day Four - Saturday
Enjoy your last day!
Use this day to explore, relax and squeeze in all of the sites you still need to see.
Enjoy your time in the great New York City!
