DOWN inc. | N.Y.C. Must-Do’s

We know New York can be overwhelming – there’s non-stop lights, traffic, people, sounds – it doesn’t stop.

We want to help you make the most of your trip to NY Now so we’ve curated seven unique ideas to make sure you’re experiencing the city that never sleeps to the fullest during market. We hope you enjoy these suggestions as much as we did experiencing them. We promise, the memories will be worth it.

Up first – we recommend you visit the water of the city. It has a unique skyline and is rich in history. The faraway skyscraper shadows glistening atop the water and Statue of Liberty are obvious tourist attractions. Our trade secret to making the most of this experience? Go slow; if you take your time and enjoy the sights from a sailboat perspective, like we did in the collage above. Please enjoy a little behind the scenes action as one of our own experiences this viewpoint on our trip to NY Now last year. Experiencing being on the water is such a great way to soothe the soul and wash away market stress.

Take the tour DOWN inc. style with a sunset sailboat cruise – more information here. 

Another one of our favorite quiet getaways in the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only will you get an eyeful of gorgeous architecture, but, you’ll feel as if you’re in another world with the infinite number of books. Plus, if you time it right, you can catch one of MANY exhibits, speakers, or events happening in this silent paradise. Check out www.nypl.org for all the details.

Team DOWN inc. LOVED the theatrics of Kinky Boots; it was such a lively show, we gave it 5 out of 5 shiny golden stars. To say the least, we would definitely recommend. Our favorite part was of course the show – but after curtains closed, and the masses were ushered out on to the streets of the city, we were greeted by hoards of pedicabs whistling, honking, clapping, singing, shouting, jumping and waving vying for your attention to literally give you a lift in a teeny bike-led carriage back to your hotel. As crazy fun as it looked, needless to say, we walked back to our hotel.

Our favorite way to get tickets is to stand in line at the TKTS Booth in Times Square; click here to learn more.

Is it ever really a true travel experience if you’re not drooling over local cuisine? You bet that authentic, New York pizza was on the top of our food-experience list. Our favorite way to experience the city in in child-like wonder, like stumbling in the fifth pizza shop we walked past and finding joy in the itty bitty, interesting things – like a punny wall art, a delectable pastry, or a too-cute tiled floor pattern. What are your favorite food finds?

 By now, you might be seeing a theme; we’re all about the scenic route, taking things slow and basking in the gorgeous slivers of nature N.Y.C. has to offer. Yeah, we’ll get to the hustle and bustle of everything else here soon, but let’s bask in the photos above – just for a minute. Even on a drizzly day, Bryant Park was GORGEOUS. It doesn’t get any better than the dewy newness of fresh summer blooms. Stuck on things to do in this green space? check out this link to get more ideas!

As promised, for all you energy seekers who haven’t had enough of the hustle and bustle of market, you should try out one of the world-famous hotspots. Pictured left above is the Cipriani Dolci restaurant set-up in Grand Central Station. Above on the right is the iconic Flatiron building. To this list of globally recognized hotspots, we could also add the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the One World Observatory, 9/11 Memorial and many, many more.

Would this really be a post about New York tourism, if we didn’t touch on Times Square? You HAVE to see these bright lights in action. We know it’s crazy, but, fight the crowds and take a peek at Times Square – between the people-watching, shop-browsing, and general buzz of it all, you won’t regret it.

Let us know your favorite hotspots – we’d love to learn more trade-secrets. Cheers!