New York in a Day

When setting out to have a full day on Broadway I'd recommend getting an early start. With any early start it's all about motivation, energy and inspiration. For the first two I'd stop at the Financier on Cedar Street and grab a hot coffee and a little pastry to give you the little boost you need to get the day going.

Now for the inspiration of the day! After you grab your coffee, about a 9 minute walk south you'll find Battery Park. The walk south on William Street will take you past Wall Street and the site of many historic Financial exchanges and offices. Batter Park is draped along the southern tip of Manhattan. The park is under a constant state of revitalization and there are new green spaces and benches daily. The one element that has not changed is the breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty. Park yourself in front of it and soak it up!

Two blocks north of Batter Park you'll find several iconic sites that are worth a quick stop. The first that you'll pass is the Charging Bull. The Bull is located just north of the Bowling Green station where Broadway forks. It's usually overwhelmed by tourists but worth seeing at least from a distance. Just a block north at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway is Trinity Church. The Church dates back to the late 1600's early 1700s and it's history and prominence in the very early origins of New York and Manhattan is incredible. Check out the link above for more history if you're interested. The cemetery at Trinity Church is also a historical place in-itself. Across the street from Trinity Church you will find the New York Stock Exchange, with it's iconic columns sometimes I find myself thinking it's amazing that it fits tucked into such a little side street. It's definintley worth snapping a photo outside and if you're very early you might be able to get a ticket to get inside if interested.

The 9/11 Memorial is amazing site to see. If you have several days in the city I would suggest taking an afternoon and spending at the Memorial and Museum, there is a lot to take in. If you're doing all of Manhattan in a day then at least walk by the memorial on Greenwich so can see the reflecting pools. The space is enormous and gives you some perspective on the magnitude of that day.

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Start the day right with breakfast in Tribeca at one of the best chill brunch spots in New York City, Bubby's in Tribeca. It's a very relaxed country house spot serving up pancakes in half a dozen different styles, including one with Fried Chicken of course...if you like that sort of thing ;). Whatever your order make sure you also get a buttermilk biscuit and finish off your meal with a slice of homemade pie.

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After breakfast head east and cut through the little Tribeca Park on Beach and 6th Avenue on your way back to Broadway. Walking north on Broadway you'll pass through Chinatown and cross over Canal Street. You'll leave Chinatown and enter SoHo and you'll know it by the sudden influx of retail you'll see. Walking along Broadway it's just one store after another from house-hold names like lululemon, H&M, Zara and J.Crew to designer shops like James Perse, All Saints and Louis Vuitton. Also along Broadway you'll bump into the downtown outpost of the New York department store Bloomingdales. Always worth a visit and a good central SoHo landmark for your walk.

After exhausting all of the shopping between Canal and Prince Streets you are likely in need of a little caffeine jolt. The famed Balthazar French brasserie is also a formidable bakery and can supply you with just what you need to keep your epic day going. There is also no shortage of celebrity sightings at Balthazar so the stop by prove an entertaining detour.

Strand is a New York institution. It's origins date back to 1927 and the very fact that it remains a vibrant store today given all that retail and bookstores have been through should be enough evidence that there's something special between these walls. On your trek up Broadway make a stop and enjoy a little book browsing.

On your journey north along Broadway, stopping through Union Square Park is must. Union Square is one of several Manhattan hubs. In addition to being the meeting place of many of the city's subway lines it's also where uptown and downtown Manhattan meet. South of Union Square (14th Street) is commonly thought of as 'downtown'. The park itself is also home to many city gatherings and festivals. Several days a week you will also find a great farmers market with a large selection of products from vendors all over the metro area. More info in the links above.

Just a couple blocks north of Union Square you'll find Fishs Eddy. There's always something fun and interesting to find at this quirky kitchen and homeware shop. Plenty of New York centric mugs and dishes as well as various home knick knacks. A fun spot to browse and if you're visiting NYC a great place to pick up a small gift from your family and freinds back home.

Eataly is a chain of Italian markets loaded with tons of Italian imports and a number of delicious counters and cafes. My kids love the Pizza and Pasta restaurant but you can’t go wrong with any of the options. Also, after lunch there is an amazing Gelato and coffee and pastry bar near the entrance closest to the LEGO store. Worth a visit.

If your outing is in the spring time then you will also likely have all of the vendors that crowd this area as part of Madison Square Eats which takes place every May and usually includes such famous NYC eateries as Roberta’s, Mr Bing, Melt Bakery, and Gotham Poké. Even outside of this annual festival you can't go wrong.

After a filing lunch at Eataly you're going to want to take a nice long walk and that's the perfect time to head north on Broadway past Herald Square and Times Square. If this is your first visit to New York then certainly stop in Times Square and snap a few photos of the lights, tourists broadcast studios and the Naked Cowboy. Otherwise press on and head toward Columbus Circle. There you will find one of the more tolerable tourist districts of the city and a great Museum at the center of it all.

Continuing north past Columbus Circle you'll find Lincoln Center. Home to The Metropolitan Opera, The New York City Ballet, The New York Philharmonic, Juilliard and countless other performing arts groups, festivals, you name it. If you can't make it to a performance at least stop by the fountain and plaza in front of Lincoln Center. There is usually some type of outdoor concert or film. In the summer's the Met Opera also broadcasts operas for free right on the plaza. Across the street you'll find a casual wine bar and coffee shop from famed Chef Daniel Boulud with standing tables over looking Lincoln Center. Perfect place to grab a glass of wine before dinner on the Upper West Side or a show at Lincoln Center.

What started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park has grown into a national chain known for simple and tasty burgers, crinkle fries and shakes, custards and concretes. Their hot dogs and burgers do not disappoint. They will be well worth the wait. It's a New York original but if you're looking for a smaller lesser known spot, check out Island Burgers & Shakes just a couple blocks north on 80th & Amsterdam. Whatever you do, you MUST save room for dessert. That's a must!

Levain is the perfect end to a perfect day. Whether you've treked across Manhattan or just finished lunch or dinner on the Upper West Side, it's always a good time for a Levain cookie. Levain is an Upper West Side landmark that serves some of the most amazingly massive and delicious cookies I've had. Grab a couple and stroll the tree lined street of your choice. Enjoy!